# Page Morris *United States representative from Minnesota and United States district judge (1853–1924)* Robert Page Waller Morris (June 30, 1853 – December 16, 1924) represented [[Minnesota]] in the [[United States House of Representatives]] and later sat as a federal judge on the [[United States District Court for the District of Minnesota]].[^1] A Virginian by birth, Morris taught mathematics in Virginia and Texas before practicing law in Lynchburg and then in Duluth, where he held municipal and state judicial posts.[^1] He was elected as a Republican from Minnesota's 6th congressional district, served from March 4, 1897, to March 3, 1903, and was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903 to a newly authorized seat on the federal district court in Minnesota. He held that seat until his death in 1924.[^1] ## Early life Morris was born in Lynchburg, Campbell County, Virginia, on June 30, 1853. He was educated at a private school as a child.[^1] ## Education Morris began college at the College of William & Mary and completed his studies at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI). He graduated from VMI in 1872 as valedictorian and as an academic medalist.[^1] In 1869 he became one of the earliest VMI members of Alpha Tau Omega. Following graduation, he taught mathematics at VMI as an assistant professor from 1872 to 1873.[^1] ## Academic career From 1873 to 1876 Morris held a professorship in mathematics at the Texas Military Institute. While there he worked alongside its president, John Garland James, and Hardaway Hunt Dinwiddie, both also VMI graduates.[^1] He moved to Texas A&M University as professor of applied mathematics, a post he held from 1876 to 1879. From 1876 to 1877 he was also commandant of the Corps of Cadets. In that role he wrote the Corps' first regulations and set its uniform standard on the model of those he had worn at VMI.[^1] In 1879 the Board of Directors released the Texas A&M staff, Morris among them, after the faculty split. The split followed President Thomas S. Gathright's appointment of Cadet John C. Crisp as senior captain, which faculty led by Professor Alexander Hogg rejected.[^1] ## Legal career Morris took up reading law in 1880. After admission to the bar, he practiced privately in Lynchburg until 1886.[^1] In 1884 he sought election from Virginia to the 49th Congress without success. He relocated his practice to Duluth, Minnesota, in 1886.[^1] He became a judge of the Duluth Municipal Court in 1889 and Duluth city attorney in 1894. He sat as a judge of the Minnesota District Court for the Eleventh Judicial District from 1895 to 1896.[^1] ## Congressional service Voters in Minnesota's 6th congressional district returned Morris, a Republican, to the 55th, 56th and 57th Congresses. His House tenure ran from March 4, 1897, to March 3, 1903, and he did not seek renomination.[^1] ## Federal judicial service On March 5, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt nominated Morris to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. The nomination was to a new seat authorized by 32 Stat. 795.[^1] The [[United States Senate]] confirmed him on March 9, 1903, and he was commissioned that day. He took inactive senior status on June 30, 1923, after which he heard no cases, and he relocated to Pasadena, California.[^1] His judicial service ended with his death in Rochester, Olmsted County, Minnesota, on December 16, 1924. He was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Duluth.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Robert Page Waller Morris, Republican representative from Minnesota's 6th congressional district and federal district judge.[^1] ### What - Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, appointed to a new seat authorized by 32 Stat. 795.[^1] ### When - Born June 30, 1853. - House service March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1903. - Nominated March 5, 1903; confirmed and commissioned March 9, 1903. - Senior status June 30, 1923; died December 16, 1924.[^1] ### Where - Lynchburg, Virginia (birth). - Duluth, Minnesota (law practice, municipal and state judicial posts, burial). - Rochester, Minnesota (death). - Pasadena, California (residence after senior status).[^1] ### How - Nominated by President Theodore Roosevelt and confirmed by the United States Senate.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Page Morris* (revision 1378384787, retrieved 2026-10-26) — birth, education, academic and legal career, congressional service, and federal judicial service. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Page_Morris