Morris was born in Oatlands, Van Diemen's Land in 1839, the son of Susan Emma Waudby and Reverend George Sculthorpe Morris.[1] He joined the marines after leaving school, and eventually arrived in New Zealand in 1870, settling in Auckland.[2]
Morris represented the Tauranga electorate in the Auckland Provincial Council from 12 November 1873 until the abolition of provincial government on 31 October 1876.[3] He represented the East Coast electorate in the House of Representatives from 1876 (when he was declared elected on a petition) to 1879, when he was defeated.[4]
The 1881 election in the newly formed Tauranga electorate was hotly contested. Four candidates were nominated: Morris; William Kelly, who had also previously represented the East Coast electorate; George Vesey Stewart, then the owner of the Bay of Plenty Times; and Henry Thomas Rowe, a surveyor and commission agent.[5] Rowe announced his retirement from the contest on 6 December three days out from election day, urging his supporters to vote for Stewart instead.[6] The unofficial results were released the day after the election (Saturday, 10 December) and Morris had a majority of 13 votes over Stewart, with the official declaration to be made on 12 December.[7] This was deferred until 14 December, with Morris ahead by 10 votes.[8] Stewart stood for the Tauranga mayoralty a few months later and was elected the town's first mayor.[9]
He represented the Tauranga electorate until 1885, when he resigned.[4]
He was later a member of the Legislative Council, from 15 May 1885 until his death.[10] He died at his home in Onehunga on 16 April 1903, aged 63, as a result of tripping and sustaining a blow to his temple.[11] He was buried at Waikaraka Cemetery, Onehunga.[12]
