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 430 MORSE. MORTON. sonant to his genius ; they were literary, and while in the practice of law he was writing more or less for newspapers, maga- zines and reviews. He wrote two profes- sional works, " The Law of Banks and Banking," which has just reached its third edition, and " The Law of Arbitration and Award." He wrote for the "American Law Review " many articles on various criminal trials, such as the Tichborne, Prince Napoleon, Troppman, Mrs. Wharton, and many others. Many of them were after- wards collected and published in one volume, by Little, Brown & Co. Mr. Morse wrote the " Life of Alexander Ham- ilton," two volumes, published by the same house. He was for several years a constant contributor, chiefly of leading articles, to the "Boston Daily Advertiser," when edited by Prof. Dunbar, and after- wards by Mr. Goddard. He has been a valued contributor to the " Saturday Re- view " and to " Fraser's Magazine " (Eng- land), to the " North American Review," the "Atlantic," and the " Nation." In the winter of iSyo-'So he finally re- tired from the practice of law. Since that time he has been chiefly employed in literature. For four years, in conjunction with Henry Cabot Lodge, he edited the " International Review." Latterly Mr. Morse has been editing the series of " Lives of American Statesmen," for Houghton, Mifflin & Co. His own con- tributions to this thus far have been the biographies of John Adams, Thomas Jef- ferson, John Quincy Adams, and Benjamin Franklin. Mr. Morse was a member of the House of Representatives in 1875, elected by a coalition of dissatisfied Republicans with the Democrats of ward 6, Boston. He declined a re-election. He is now serving a second term as a member of the board of overseers of Harvard University. He is a trustee of the Boston Athenaeum, and a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society. In 1865 he married Fanny, daughter of George O. Hovey, of Boston. Of this union are two sons : Cabot Jackson and John Torrey Morse. MORSE, NATHAN, son of Nathan and Sally (Gilman) Morse, was born in Moul- tonborough, Carroll county, N. H., July 24, 1S24. He was directly in the line of two of the oldest and best families of New Hampshire. The first thirteen years of his life were passed on his father's farm, attending pub- lic schools the usual time allotted to farm boys in country districts. At this time, a fire having destroyed all the farm build- ings, the family removed to the village, where his father was appointed postmaster, holding the position for twenty consecutive years. At the age of eighteen, Nathan, Jr., was appointed assistant-postmaster — a po- sition he held until he came to Boston in iS43- He studied medicine some months after coming to Boston, under the direction of his elder brother, then in the Harvard med- ical school. Not finding medicine suited to his tastes, he decided to make the law his profession. In 1845 he entered the Har- vard law school, and devoted two years to its study, graduating in 1847. During these years he was entirely de- pendent upon his own earnings for his sup- port, with the help of such sums as a friend was able to loan him toward the payment of his tuition fees ; but by persistent industry and economy, and that courage and self- reliance which has ever characterized him, he overcame all difficulties in his path, and soon after graduation was admitted to the Suffolk bar. Entering at once upon the practice of his profession in Boston in 1852, he formed a partnership with Hon. Ambrose A. Ran- ney, under the firm name of Ranney & Morse. This relation continued for many years, and the firm became one of the most prominent in the State. He has risen rapidly in the ranks of his profession, and has a large clientage and lucrative prac- tice. His business is largely in the courts, as senior counsel in the trial of causes. He commands the confidence of the bench and the bar. Mr. Morse has never accepted public office, with a single exception — that of common councilman in 1863 — his entire time and strength being given to his chosen work. Adhering to the faith of his father, he has for many years been a mem- ber of the Old South church. Mr. Morse was married in Boston, No- vember 18, 185 1, to Sarah, daughter of Daniel Deshon. Of this union were two children : Fannie Deshon and Edward Oilman Morse. MORTON, MARCUS, son of Marcus and Charlotte (Hodges) Morton, was born in Taunton, Bristol county, April 8,1819. His early education was accomplished in the public schools of his native town, and he fitted for college at the Bristol County Academy, entering Brown Univer- sity, Providence, R. I., 1834, from which he was graduated in the class of 1838. He