b. 25/01/1855 New York. d. ?
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 25/12/1881 Villefranche, France.
Morris is believed to have been born in New York, or possibly Dublin, Ireland. Some reports state it was on 25th January 1855, some as late as 1862. In November 1880 he joined the Marine Corps from Brooklyn, New York and was assigned to the marine contingent aboard the USS Lancaster. When the ship was at Villefranche, France, December 25, 1881 an ordinary seaman and prisoner named Robert Blizzard attempted to escape custody by jumping overboard. Corporal Morris jumped into the water afterwards to save Blizzard from drowning and for his actions he received the Medal of Honor October 18, 1884. Morris was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps April 20, 1895.
MOH CITATION:
For leaping overboard from the U.S. flagship Lancaster, at Villefranche, France, 25 December 1881, and rescuing from drowning Robert Blizzard, ordinary seaman, a prisoner, who had jumped overboard.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.