Freeman Harlow Morse (February 18, 1807 – February 5, 1891) was a United States representative from Maine.

Freeman Harlow Morse
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Maine's 4th district
In office
March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861
Preceded bySamuel P. Benson
Succeeded byAnson P. Morrill
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Maine's 4th district
In office
March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845
Preceded byDavid Bronson
Succeeded byJohn D. McCrate
Member of the
Maine House of Representatives
Mayor of
Bath, Maine
United States Consul in London
Personal details
Born(1807-02-18)February 18, 1807
Bath, Massachusetts, U.S. (now Maine)
DiedFebruary 5, 1891(1891-02-05) (aged 83)
Surbiton, Surrey, England, U.K.
Resting placeSt. Mary’s churchyard, Long Ditton, England.
Political partyWhig
Other political
affiliations
Republican

Early life and education

edit

He was born in Bath, Massachusetts (now in Maine) on February 18, 1807. He attended private schools and the academy in Bath. He engaged in business as a carver of figureheads for ships.

Early political career

edit

Morse was elected a member of the Maine House of Representatives. He was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-eighth Congress (March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845). Morse was elected Mayor of Bath, Maine.

Congressional career

edit

Morse was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth Congresses (March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861). Morse was Chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs (Thirty-sixth Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination.

Diplomatic career

edit

Morse was a delegate to the Peace Convention held in Washington, D.C. in 1861, in an effort to devise means to prevent the impending war. He was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln as United States consul in London March 22, 1861, and Consul General April 16, 1869. He resided in England after his retirement from office.

Death and burial

edit

Morse died in Surbiton, Surrey, England, U.K. on February 5, 1891. His interment was in the parish churchyard of St. Mary’s in Long Ditton, England.

See also

edit
edit

Information incorporated from the public domain Bioguide of the US Congress

Party political offices
Preceded by Whig nominee for Governor of Maine
1845
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Maine's 4th congressional district

March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 (obsolete district)
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Maine's 4th congressional district

March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861 (obsolete district)
Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
United States Consul in London
March 22, 1861–April 16, 1869
Succeeded by