MORSE, LEOPOLD

MORSE, LEOPOLD (1831–1892), U.S. congressman. Morse, who was born in Wachenheim, Bavaria, went to the U.S. in 1849. In 1850 he moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where he worked in a clothing store. In 1864 Morse and Ferdinand Strauss formed the Leopold Morse Company which specialized in the manufacture of men's clothing and soon became the largest of its kind in New England. After twice running unsuccessfully for Congress on the Democratic ticket (1870, 1872), Morse subsequently served five terms in Congress as Democratic representative from Massachusetts (1877–85, 1887–89). Morse was rumored to be a leading choice for the post of secretary of war in Grover Cleveland's cabinet, but religious prejudices were supposed to have ruled out his appointment. Active in Jewish affairs, Morse founded the Boston Home for Infirm Hebrews and Orphanage, renamed the Leopold Morse Home for Infirm Hebrews and Orphanage after his death.