New play depicts life of powerful, forgotten financier founder Robert Morris, noon Oct. 13

Alexander Hamilton revered him. Benjamin Franklin prized this fellow-Philadelphian. None appreciated him more than both President and General George Washington. Thomas Jefferson thought he was a fox.

But in 1781 they all agreed that only Robert Morris could become the superintendent of finance and save the nation from financial destruction. And he did. General Washington won the War, but never ceased in his praise of Morris' indispensable financial and economic acumen in confronting Great Britain, the world's greatest economic power.

National Press Club member Anthony Gallo has written a new play about Morris, "Mr. Morris," that premieres at the Cosmois Theater at noon Saturday, Oct. 13.

The mention of Morris' name today elicits a “Who?” in response. This two-act dramatization probes the life of a figure who is surely America’s most under-appreciated Founding Father.

Morris rose to become the richest man in all of the Americas, found ways of financing the Revolutionary War, laid the groundwork for the economic establishment of the new republic and died in bankruptcy. But his critics argue that Morris did not finance the Revolutionary War. The Revolutionary War financed Robert Morris.

He signed the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution. As superintendent of finance, he funded the American Revolution. Morris was, next to General George Washington, the most powerful man in America.

For more information, contact Anthony E. Gallo (202 544 6973, [email protected]).