Lewis Spencer Morris (1884-1944)

He was born August 21, 1884, and could claim a long and dignified American pedigree. His wealthy ancestor Richard Morris, arrived in New York around 1670. He purchased a 500-acre farm in what is now the Bronx (the family name survives in the Morris Heights and Morrisania neighborhoods). Another ancestor, Lewis Morris III, signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence. He attended the exclusive Browning School before going on to Princeton University, graduating in 1906. The following year, on April 6, he married Emily Pell Coster, the daughter of Charles Henry Coster, a partner of  J.P. Morgan. Morris joined his father's law firm, Morris & McVeigh in 1917. Along with his legal practice, Lewis was chairman of the board of the Fulton Trust Company of New York. He was chairman of the New York Society Library, and a director of the Northern Insurance Company. Morris held memberships in the exclusive Knickerbocker, Down Town, Racquet and Tennis, Tuxedo, Princeton and Brook Clubs.

As war broke in Europe, Emily became involved in relief projects. In 1940 she was president of the American branch of the French Red Cross. Among its efforts was a benefit dinner and entertainment entitled "A Night in Trouville" on June 25 that year at the Cafe Trouville to benefit the Mobile Surgical Unit, Inc. Another conflict was brewing much closer to home at the time. On December 20, 1941 The New York Times reported that Emily "obtained a divorce today from Lewis Spencer Morris." The grounds, said the article, were cruelty. In fact, Lewis had fallen in love with another woman. Five weeks later, on January 21, he married Louise Stephanie Stewart Trevor Lord. The Times noted the following day that "No announcement had been made of the engagement." Morris sold the 80th Street house later that year. His life with Louise would not be long. His health soon failed, and after an extended illness he died in Roosevelt Hospital on November 28, 1944.