Age 45 years.

On July 7, 1864, he married Mary Chase Steele at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The National Republican
Tuesday Morning, August 17, 1875
Obituary
Death of Commander George Upman Morris, United States Navy
We regret to announce the death of one of the bravest officers of the American navy, Commander George U. Morris, of consumption, at the Alum Springs, Virginia, on the 15th instant. He was the youngest son of the illustrious Commodore Morris and was born at the Charleston Navy Yard, where his father was in command of that station forty-five years ago and was named for his father's old friend, the gallant Colonel Upman, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Entering the navy in 1846, he served in the Gulf during the Mexican War and was present in the actions of Taspan and Tobasco. He was in the Pacific from 1854 to 1857 and on the 8th of March 1862, was First Lieutenant of the Cumberland in the Hampton Roads and temporarily in command during the absence of Captain Radford. When the Confederate iron clad Merrimac, commanded by Buchanan, came out of the Elizabeth River, she made a serious onset upon the Cumberland and was received by a vigorous and well directed fire, which produced unfortunately, but little effect. The Merrimac ran furiously against the Cumberland and sank her in a few minutes.

She went down with a parting broadside at her enemy and with her colors flying. Many of her officers and crew were enabled to reach the shore, but a large number perished with the ship. Promoted to Lieutenant Commander July 1862, he commanded from 1862 to 1864 the gunboat Port Royal in the Gulf, the Shawmut in 1864-1865 in the Atlantic and the Brooklyn in 1866. Commander Morris was twice married. His first wife, a lady of Fredericksburg, died in this city a few years ago. His second wife, a daughter [Mary] of Franklin Steele Esq., of Georgetown survives him. He leaves no children. His mother is still living in this city as the venerable age of eighty-three. Commander Morris was distinguished throughout his whole career as a naval officer by his rigid adherence to duty. He enjoyed to an unusual degree the respect and esteem of his brother officers, who will regret his death in the meridian of life, as the severance of many ties of friendship and a loss to the service of which he was an ornament.

The National Republican
Friday Morning, August 20, 1875
Obsequies
The Late Commander George Upham Morris, United States Navy
The funeral of George Upham Morris, late Commander of the United States Navy, which was solemnized yesterday afternoon in Georgetown, was one of the largest and most impressive that has taken place in that city for several years. It was attended by some of the oldest and most respected citizens of Georgetown and the bosom friends of the deceased, including those in the service of the army and navy and in civil life. Among them were Admiral Radford, (whom Lieutenant Morris represented as commander of the sloop of war Cumberland in the daring exploit and engagement with the ram Merrimac,) Captain Patterson, General Ramsey, Judge Key, Admiral Goldsborough, James Marbury, of the Washington bar and others. Many old persons, who are but seldom seen out of doors, walked to Oak Hill Cemetery, the place of burial, to pay their last respects to the worthy dead.

Early in the afternoon the most intimate friends gathered at the residence of Colonel Franklin Steele, the father-in-law of Lieutenant Morris and where the deceased spent his last days. Here the corpse was handsomely laid out in the full uniform of a commander and the noble features presented a life like appearance which caused much remark from those who viewed it. The floral offerings of friends of the family were as profuse as they were elegant. From nurseries and private conservatoires were brought the choicest, most delicate and appropriate that bloom. There were rose buds, heliotropes, Japanese lilies and mignonettes. These were worked into various designs. There were two stars, two crosses, an anchor, the present of the deceased's aged mother, who is in her eighty-fourth year; two wreaths and a floral rope. These, with the American flag, were strewn and entwined about the burial case until it was almost lost in tributes of affection and esteem. On entering the parlors the war relics of the deceased could be seen in various parts of the rooms. On the piano lay the sword presented at Union League Ball soon after the engagement between the Cumberland and the Merrimac. It was the tribute of prominent citizens of Philadelphia, such as Mr. George Boker, now minister to Spain and Mr. Horace Binney, who recently preceded the deceased in departing this life.

The following is the inscription on the sword: Presented to George U. Morris, recently commanding sloop-of-war Cumberland, by the citizens of Philadelphia, in testimony of their high appreciation of his loyal and gallant conduct in the action between the Cumberland and Merrimac, 8th of June 1862.

At about 5 o'clock the carriages and hearse drew up before the door. The body was borne out on the shoulders of eight seamen, one of them of the Cumberland.

The first carriage in the train contained Mrs. Morris, accompanied by her father; Mrs. Steele, her mother, accompanied by Dr. Morris, of Boston. In the second carriage were Mrs. Addison and Mrs. Coolidge and the two Misses Steele.

The body bearers took their places on each side of the hearse and the pall bearers marched nearby. These were made up from the army and the navy, as follows: General Blake, Captain Nicholson, General Bingham, Dr. Martin, United States Navy; Captain Conrad, United states Army; Commander Reamy, Major Twining and Lieutenant Watson.

The procession formed, it proceeded to St. John's Church, where a large concourse of people was met. The complete forms of a military funeral were not carried out, the wishes and request of the widow of the deceased being kindly regarded and many features which were proposed in honor to Lieutenant Morris and to which he was entitled, were dropped out of the proceedings and other marks of respect introduced. The firing over the grave was dispensed with. The drums of the Marine band were draped in mourning and muffled, adding further to the solemnity of the occasion. The troops participating were the Marine Guards, seventy-four of whom, under the command of Captain Huntington, were mustered and marched to St. John's Church.

Shortly after 5 the bell tolled and Rev. A.B. Atkins, rector of St. John's Church, passed down the aisle and met the funeral cortege at the door, at the head of which and while preceding up to the chancel, the reverend gentleman read the burial service of the Episcopal Church. After which the choir sang a favorite selection of the deceased, the hymn, 392, Just as I am, without one plea, &c., which was impressively rendered. This was followed by prayer, when the order of the procession was formed and the march to Oak Hill Cemetery commenced. This was rather a physical strain on account of the muddy condition in which the floods left the streets. One of the marines became sick and fatigued and dropped from the ranks unable to help himself.

Arriving at the grounds the huge east gates were swung on their hinges; the Marines marched in and formed a single line on the south side facing the grave. The pedestrians who followed the pageant straggled in at the various gates until the place was black with people and presented more the appearance of a beautiful park on a gala day than a funeral occasion. The Marines came to a present arms and the mourners, headed by the Rev. Mr. Atkins, passed in front of them to the grave, where the prayer was delivered and the usual forms of the Episcopal Church gone through.

After the ceremonies the attendants repaired to their coaches and the troops marched back to the navy yard.

From the Naval Historical Center website: Commander George U. Morris, United States Navy, (1830-1875). George Upham Morris was born in Massachusetts on June 12, 1830. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1846 and graduated with the Class of 1852. Over the next several years, he served in the brig Dolphin and sloop Decatur, receiving promotion to the rank of Lieutenant in 1855 while on board the latter. From 1858 into 1860 Morris had ordnance duty at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C. and further sea service on board the sloop of war Cyane.

Lieutenant Morris was assigned to USS Cumberland during 1861-1862 and was her acting commanding officer when she was lost in a heroically fought action with CSS Virginia on March 8, 1862. Promoted to Lieutenant Commander in July 1862 Morris was Commanding Officer of the gunboats Port Royal and Shawmut during the next three years. He was Executive Officer of USS Brooklyn in 1865-1866 and achieved the rank of Commander in July of the latter year. His remaining active service was limited to duty at the Pensacola Navy Yard, Florida, in 1869-1872 and he retired in 1874. Commander George U. Morris died at Jordan Alum Springs, Virginia on August 15, 1875.