Allen Benton Morse (January 7, 1837 – July 1, 1921) was an American diplomat, jurist and politician. Born in Otisco,

Ionia County, Michigan Ionia County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 66,804. The county seat is Ionia. The Ionia County Courthouse was designed by Claire Allen, a prominent southern Michigan architect. ...

, Morse studied at the Michigan State Agricultural College for two years. He then served in the

21st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment {{Infobox military unit , unit_name= 21st Michigan Infantry Regiment , image= , caption= , dates= September 9, 1862, to June 8, 1865 , country= {{flag, United States , allegiance= Union , branch= Infantry , equipment= , battles= Battle of Perr ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

and was badly wounded losing his left arm. He then studied and then practiced law in

Ionia, Michigan Ionia ( ) is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Ionia County, Michigan, United States. The population was 13,378 at the 2020 census. Every July it hosts what is said to be the world's largest free-admission fair, the Ionia Free Fair ...

. He served as county attorney of Ionia County in 1867. Morse also served on the Ionia City Council and as mayor of Ionia, Michigan in 1882. In 1875, Morse served in the

Michigan State Senate The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. Along with the Michigan House of Representatives, it composes the state legislature, which has powers, roles and duties defined by Article IV of the Constitution of Michigan, Mi ...

and was a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

. Morse then served on the

Michigan Supreme Court The Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is Michigan's court of last resort and consists of seven justices. The Court is located in the Michigan Hall of Justice at 925 Ottawa Street in Lansing, the s ...

from 1885 to 1892 and was chief justice in 1885. In 1892, Morse sought the Democratic nomination for the

Governor of Michigan The governor of Michigan is the head of government of the U.S. state of Michigan. The current governor is Gretchen Whitmer, a member of the Democratic Party, who was inaugurated on January 1, 2019, as the state's 49th governor. She was re-ele ...

and lost the race. Morse then served as United States consul, in

Glasgow Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

from 1893 to 1897. Around this time, Morse switched to the Republican Party. Morse died suddenly at his home in Ionia, Michigan.

Notable Opinions

# Sherwood v. Walker

Notes

1837 births 1921 deaths People from Ionia County, Michigan People of Michigan in the American Civil War Michigan State University alumni Consuls for the United States American amputees American politicians with disabilities Michigan city council members Mayors of places in Michigan Democratic Party Michigan state senators Chief justices of the Michigan Supreme Court People from Ionia, Michigan 19th-century American diplomats 19th-century Michigan state court judges Justices of the Michigan Supreme Court American lawyers with disabilities 19th-century members of the Michigan Legislature {{Michigan-MISenate-stub