US Congressman. He was educated in Bath, Maine, and was employed as a carpenter, noted especially for his carvings of ship figureheads. Morse served in the Maine House of Representatives from 1840 to 1844. In 1842 he was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Whig and served one term, 1843 to 1845. He was Mayor of Bath from 1849 to 1850, a member of the Maine House of Representatives in 1853, Mayor again in 1855, and a member of the Maine House once more in 1856. A Republican after the Whig party became defunct, in 1856 he was elected to the US House for the second time and served two terms, 1857 to 1861. In his final term Morse was Chairman of the Naval Affairs Committee. In 1861 he was a Delegate to the Washington peace convention called to attempt halting the start of the Civil War. Later that year Morse was appointed US Consul in London. He served until 1869, and played an important role in the Civil War, helping gather intelligence on Confederate ship movements and diplomatic activities. In 1869 he accepted appointment as Consul General to England, an office he held until 1870. After his retirement Morse continued to reside in England and died in Surbiton, Surrey County, which was then a rural town but is now part of Greater London.
US Congressman. He was educated in Bath, Maine, and was employed as a carpenter, noted especially for his carvings of ship figureheads. Morse served in the Maine House of Representatives from 1840 to 1844. In 1842 he was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Whig and served one term, 1843 to 1845. He was Mayor of Bath from 1849 to 1850, a member of the Maine House of Representatives in 1853, Mayor again in 1855, and a member of the Maine House once more in 1856. A Republican after the Whig party became defunct, in 1856 he was elected to the US House for the second time and served two terms, 1857 to 1861. In his final term Morse was Chairman of the Naval Affairs Committee. In 1861 he was a Delegate to the Washington peace convention called to attempt halting the start of the Civil War. Later that year Morse was appointed US Consul in London. He served until 1869, and played an important role in the Civil War, helping gather intelligence on Confederate ship movements and diplomatic activities. In 1869 he accepted appointment as Consul General to England, an office he held until 1870. After his retirement Morse continued to reside in England and died in Surbiton, Surrey County, which was then a rural town but is now part of Greater London.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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