Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 07.djvu/512

 MORTON

MORTON

infantry, and was transferred with that regiment to the artillery, and in 1815 was placed in com- mand of the first division of the New York state artillery. During the war of 1812 he was a mem- ber of the state board of fortification, and as commander of artillery was constantly active in connection with the preparations for the defense of New York harbor. General Morton was elected to the house of assembly in 1795, and in 1797 was made a judge of the court of justices, and after filling the oflSces of alderman, comptroller and city inspector, was in 1810 made clerk of the common council, which office he held until his death. He was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati, and his portrait with the badge of that organization is preserved, together with a large punch bowl presented by him to the board of aldermen, in the Governor's room at the City Hall, New York city. On June 25, 1791, General Morton married Catharine Ludlow, who was born Jan. 22, 1767, and died May 11, 1849, leaving seven sons and one daughter, as follows : John Ludlow, artist, born March 16, 1792, died Aug. 2, 1871 ; George William, U.S. commissioner, etc., born July 5, 1793, died May 7, 1865 ; Charles Ferdinand, U.S. army, born Oct. 30, 1794, died April 10, 1868 ; Edmund, gentleman farmer, born June 1, 1800, died Aug. 7, 1881 ; Hester Sophia, born Aug. 3, 1796, married Dr. R. Bullas, died June 26, 1868 ; Washington Quincy, lawyer, born April 12, 1802, died Sept. 6, 1878 ; Hamilton, surgeon, later lawyer, born Jan. 21, 1804, died 1895 ; and Henry Jackson (q.v.). See "New York City During the War of 1822," by R. S. Guernsey (New York, 1889). He died in New York city, Dec. 3, 1836.

nORTON, James St. Clair, soldier, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 24, 1829; son of Dr. Samuel George and Rebecca Grellet (Pearsall) Morton. He attended the University of Pennsyl- vania, 1843-46, and was graduated at the U.S. Military academy, second in the class of 1851, and was assigned to the coi-ps of engineers. He was assistant engineer in the construction of the de- fenses at Charleston, S.C, 1851-52, and in the building of Fort Delaware, Del., 1852-55. He was promoted 2d lieutenant in the corps of engineers, April 1, 1854; was assistant professor of math- ematics and of military engineering at the U.S. Military academy, 1855-57, engineer in the preliminary work at Sandy Hook Fort, N.J., 1857-58, and built the Sandy Hook lighthouse. He was promoted 1st lieutenant, July 1, 1856 ; served as lighthouse engineer, 1858-59 ; and had charge of work on the Washington monument and was engineer of the Potomac water works, 1859-60. He was in command of the Chiriqui expedition to Central America in 1860 ; was super- intending engineer during the building of Fort Jefferson, atTortugas, Fla., 1861-62, and of repairs

at Fort Mifflin, Pa., in 1862. He was promoted captain of the corps of engineers, Aug. 6, 1861 ; served as chief engineer of the Army of the Ohio, May to October, 1862 ; as chief engineer of the Army of the Cumberland from October, 1862, to November, 1863, and commanded the Pioneer brigade attached to the 14th corps of the Army of the Cumberland in November, 1863. He was commissioned brigadier-general of U.S. volun- teers, Nov. 29, 1862, and served in the Tennessee campaign, being engaged iu tl»e battle of Stone's River, Dec. 31, 1862, to Jan. 3, 1863 ; was brevetted lieutenant-colonel, U.S.A., Jan. 2, 1863, for gallant and meritorious services in the battle of Stone's River ; was engaged in fortifying Nashville and Murfreesboro, Tenn., January to June, 1863 ; participated in the advance on TuUahoma, June to July, 1863, and was promoted major, July 8, 1863. He took part in the battle of Chickamauga, Sept. 19-20, 1863, where he was wounded ; was brevetted colonel, U.S.A. for gallant and meritorious serv- ices in that battle, Sept. 20, 1863, and engaged in fortifying Chattanooga, September to November, 1863. He was mustered out of the volunteer service, Nov. 7, 1863 ; served as superintending engineer of the defenses of Nashville, Murfrees- boro, Clarksville and Fort Donelson from Nov. 14,

1863, to Jan. 30, 1864 ; was assistant to the chief engineer at Washington, D.C., January to May,

1864, and chief engineer of the 9th army corps, May-June, 1864, being engaged in the battle of North Anna, May 24, 1864, battle of Tolopotomy, May 28-29, 1864, battle of Bethesda church, May 30, 1864, and the assault of Petersburg, Va., where he was killed while leading the attack. He was brevetted brigadier-general of the U.S. army, June 17, 1864, for gallant and meritorious services at the assault on Petersburg, Va. He is the au- thor of : An Essay on Instruction in Engineering, (1856) ; an essay on A New Plan for the Fortifi- cation of Certain Points of the Sea Coast of the United States (1858); Memoir on American For- tification (1859); Dangers and Defences of New York City (1858); and Life and Services of Maj. John Saunders of the Engineers (1860). He was killed at Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864, and was buried with military honors at Laurel Hill ceme- tery, Philadelphia.

nORTON, John, signer, was born at Ridley, Pa. in 1724 ; son of John and Mary (Richards) Morton. His ancestors were among the first Swedish emigrants to settle on the Delaware river between the Christiana and the Wickeeo, in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pa. His father died before his birth, and his mother was married, sec- ondly, to John Sketchley, an Englishman, who guarded his stepson with paternal care, superin- tending his education and instructing him in sur- veying. He was employed in surveying and