Robert Morris

"a cogent, complex look at the American Revolution" - Kirkus Reviews Morris in one year put up more money for the war than all the states combined. The spirit of risk and economic freedom that he championed - laissez-faire capitalism, a radical idea - helped us win the war (and gave rise to our modern system). He coordinated the French Fleet and Washington's arrival at Yorktown. He got rid of religious test laws, and signed all three founding documents. His enemies won the election of 1800 and wrote him out of the story. Only Washington was more indispensable.