Marcus Morton
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| Marcus Morton | |
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4th Acting, 16th & 18th Governor of Massachusetts
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| In office February 6, 1825 – May 26, 1825 (acting) January 18, 1840 – January 7, 1841 January 17, 1843 – January 1844 |
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| Preceded by | William Eustis (1825) Edward Everett (1840) John Davis (1844) |
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| Succeeded by | Levi Lincoln, Jr. (1825) John Davis (1841) George N. Briggs (1844) |
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| Born | December 19, 1784 East Freetown, Massachusetts |
| Died | February 6, 1864 Taunton, Massachusetts |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican Democrat |
| Spouse | Unknown |
Marcus Morton (December 19, 1784 – February 6, 1864) was a lawyer, jurist, and politician from Taunton, Massachusetts. He represented Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives and served two terms as Governor of Massachusetts, as well as a portion of an unexpired term in 1825.
Morton was born in East Freetown, Massachusetts and graduated from Brown University in 1804. He read law in Litchfield, Connecticut before moving to Taunton and beginning its practice in 1807. He received his LL. D. from Brown in 1826, and again (as an honorary degree) from Harvard University in 1840.
After serving as clerk of the Massachusetts Senate, Morton was elected as a Jeffersonian Republican to the House of Representatives in 1816 and served from 1817 until 1821. He lost his seat in the election of 1820.
In 1823 Morton served on the state's Executive Council and became Lieutenant-Governor. He served briefly as acting Governor after William Eustis died in office in 1825. Later that year he was named as associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, and served there until 1840. Morton was elected Governor twice and served in 1840-1841 and 1843-1844.
Morton died at home in Taunton in 1864 and was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery there. His home in Taunton later became the original building of Morton Hospital and Medical Center. The Morton House in Taunton was demolished in the 1960s during hospital expansion. The Morton House of East Freetown was moved to Newport, Rhode Island sometime during the 20th century. His son, also named Marcus, was also a lawyer and would follow him on the state's supreme court.
[edit] External links
- Biographic sketch at U.S.Congress website
- Official Commonwealth of Masachusetts Governor Biography
- Marcus Morton and the Dilemma of Jacksonian Antislavery in Massachusetts, 1817–1849
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Laban Wheaton |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 10th congressional district 1817 – 1821 |
Succeeded by Francis Baylies |
| Preceded by Levi Lincoln, Jr. |
Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts 1824 – February 6, 1825 |
Succeeded by (vacant) |
| Preceded by William Eustis |
Acting Governor of Massachusetts February 6, 1825 – May 26, 1825 |
Succeeded by Levi Lincoln, Jr. |
| Preceded by Edward Everett |
Governor of Massachusetts January 18, 1840 – January 7, 1841 |
Succeeded by John Davis |
| Preceded by John Davis |
Governor of Massachusetts January 17, 1843 – January, 1844 |
Succeeded by George N. Briggs |
| Court offices | ||
| Preceded by ' |
Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court 1825 – 1840 |
Succeeded by ' |
