Achilles Morris
Achilles Morris | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from Sangamon County | |
| In office December 1, 1832 – December 6, 1834 | |
| Succeeded by | Abraham Lincoln |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kanawha County, West Virginia |
| Died | February 15, 1847 Tampico, Mexico |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Spouse | Leah Jarrett (m.1822) |
| Children | 11, including Jonathan Morris |
| Known for | Abraham Lincoln's commanding officer during the Black Hawk War; defeating Lincoln in the Sangamon County election of 1832 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | Illinois Militia |
| Years of service | 1827–1847 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel, Captain |
| Commands | Commander of the 31st (Sangamon) Regiment of Illinois Militia |
| Battles/wars | American Indian Wars, Winnebago War, Black Hawk War, Mexican-American War |
Achilles Morris (May 8, 1800 – February 15, 1847) was an American politician and military officer who served as Abraham Lincoln's commanding officer in 1832 during the Black Hawk War and defeated Lincoln in the Illinois House of Representatives election for Sangamon County the same year. Seven years later in 1839 Morris served as the Vice President of the Democratic-Republican Party of Illinois, and in 1840, Lincoln authored a bill for an Act to Establish a State Road from Petersburg in Menard County to Waverly in Morgan County where he appointed Achilles Morris as Commissioner. Morris later served alongside Lincoln at the Railroad Convention in 1845. The chairman of the convention was Samuel H. Treat, and the delegates elected were Nathaniel Pope, David J. Baker, John J. Hardin, Josiah Lamborn, Thomas Lewis, Abraham Lincoln, and Achilles Morris. Morris was a Jacksonian democrat.
In 1846, Achilles Morris returned to military service to lead a volunteer company from Sangamon County in the Mexican American War. He died in Mexico from disease on February 15, 1847, and was buried with full military honors.