Morton, Levi P. (Levi Parsons), 1824-1920

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Levi Parsons Morton (May 16, 1824 – May 16, 1920) was the 22nd vice president of the United States from 1889 to 1893. He also served as United States ambassador to France, as a US representative from New York, and as the 31st governor of New York.

The son of a Congregational minister, Morton was born in Vermont and educated in Vermont and Massachusetts. He trained for a business career by clerking in stores and working in mercantile establishments in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. After relocating to New York City, Morton became a successful merchant, cotton broker, and investment banker.

Active in politics as a Republican, Morton was an ally of Roscoe Conkling. He was twice elected to the United States House of Representatives, and he served one full term, and one partial one (March 4, 1879 – March 21, 1881). In 1880, Republican presidential nominee James A. Garfield offered Morton the vice presidential nomination in an effort to win over Conkling loyalists who were disappointed that their choice for president, Ulysses S. Grant, had lost to Garfield. Conkling advised Morton to decline, which he did. Garfield then offered the nomination to another Conkling ally, Chester A. Arthur, who accepted.

After Garfield and Arthur were elected, Garfield nominated Morton to be Minister Plenipotentiary to France, and Morton served in Paris until 1885. In 1888, Morton was nominated for vice president on the Republican ticket with presidential nominee Benjamin Harrison; they were elected, and Morton served as vice president from 1889 to 1893. In 1894, Morton was the successful Republican nominee for governor of New York, and he served one term, 1895 to 1896.

In retirement, Morton resided in New York City and Rhinebeck, New York. He died in 1920, and was buried at Rhinebeck Cemetery.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Augustus Mendon Lord collection, Lord (Augustus Mendon) collection, (bulk 1876-1908), 1778-1908 John Hay Library, Special Collections
referencedIn Thomas Collier Platt papers, 1851-1915 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Papers New Jersey Historical Society Library
referencedIn Forbes, W. Cameron (William Cameron), 1870-1959. Collection of family and historical documents, ca. 1680-1900 Houghton Library
referencedIn Oliver Wendell Holmes letters from various correspondents, 1891-1892. Houghton Library
referencedIn Shaw, Albert D. (Albert Duane), 1841-1901. Papers, 1830-1920. American Periodical Series I
referencedIn Agnew, George Bliss, 1868-1941. George Bliss Agnew papers, 1882-1925. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
creatorOf Matthews, Stanley, 1824-1889. Letters, 1877, 1881. Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Depew, Chauncey M. (Chauncey Mitchell), 1834-1928. Chauncey M. Depew papers, 1865-1928. Library of Congress
creatorOf Levi P. Morton papers, 1818-1920, 1878-1898 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Horatio King Papers, 1832-1906, (bulk 1857-1891) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Alexander Stewart Webb papers, 1818-1930 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Horatio King Papers, 1832-1906, (bulk 1857-1891) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Morton, Levi P. (Levi Parsons), 1824-1920. Letters. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Elder, Abram P. T. (Abram Peter Turner). Papers, 1890-1916 (bulk 1903-1916). Library of Congress
creatorOf Hay, John, 1838-1905. Correspondence, 1854-1914, "Mitchell" to "Nicholson". Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685 - 2009. Certificates of Electors of the Electoral College for New Hampshire, 1792 - 1984 National Archives at Boston
referencedIn Morgan, Edwin D. (Edwin Denison), 1811-1883. Papers, 1830-1872. American Periodical Series I
creatorOf Morton, Levi P. (Levi Parsons), 1824-1920. Levi P. Morton papers, 1842-1920, bulk (1880s-1890s) New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf New York (State). Governor. Appointment correspondence files, 1883-1936. New York State Archives
referencedIn August Belmont papers, 1853-1887 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Morton, Levi P. (Levi Parsons), 1824-1920. Letter to Colonel Cole, n.d. American Periodical Series I
referencedIn Webb, Alexander S. (Alexander Stewart), 1835-1911. Alexander Stewart Webb papers, 1818-1930 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn American Committee of the Statue of Liberty correspondence, 1881-1901 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf New York (State) $bGovernor. New York State Governors Secretary letter books, 1883-1895. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Autograph book of J.A. Richards, 1856, 189? University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Morton, Levi P. (Levi Parsons), 1824-1920. Letter to Colonel Cole, n.d. American Periodical Series I
creatorOf Levi P. Morton Correspondence, 1860-1912 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984. Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
referencedIn Charles S. Hamlin Papers, 1869-1968, (bulk 1880-1938) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Alexander Robey Shepherd Papers, 1776-1945, (bulk 1868-1900) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Republican Party (Pa.). State Committee. Republican song sheet, circa 1888. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
creatorOf Benjamin Delano & Son. Records, ca. 1807-1882 ca. 1830-1860. Boston Public Library, Central Library in Copley Square
referencedIn Autograph File, M Houghton Library
referencedIn Morgan family. Papers, 1811-1956. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Chandler, William E. (William Eaton), 1835-1917. William E. Chandler papers, 1829-1917. New Hampshire Historical Society Library
referencedIn Charles Baldwin Sedgwick Papers, 1814-1891 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Records of the National Park Service, 1785 - 2006. National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records, 2013 - 2017 National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
referencedIn Photographic Portrait File The Huntington Library
creatorOf Crawford, F. Marion (Francis Marion), 1854-1909. F. Marion (Francis Marion) Crawford papers, 1864-1967 (inclusive), 1883-1908 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Nast, Thomas, 1840-1902. Pen and ink sketch, [1888?]. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Cornell, Alonzo B., 1832-1904. Alonzo B. Cornell papers, 1830-1904. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Belmont, August, 1813-1890. August Belmont papers, 1853-1887. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Cole, Ashley T., 1876-1964,. Papers, 1879-1926. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn John Sherman Papers, 1836-1900, (bulk 1857-1894) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Records of the American National Red Cross. 1881 - 2008. Official Administrative Documents National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Morton, Levi P. (Levi Parsons), 1824-1920. TLS, 1896 [?] September 21 : Albany, New York, to Magnus Robinson. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Ashley W. Cole Letters, 1882-1916 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Lewis Eller Asher autograph collection, 1757-1925. Library of Congress
creatorOf Morton, Levi P. (Levi Parsons), 1824-1920. Correspondence. 1844-1849. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
referencedIn Augustus Mendon Lord collection, Lord (Augustus Mendon) collection, (bulk 1876-1908), 1778-1908 John Hay Library, Special Collections
referencedIn Morton, Bliss & Company. Records, 1876-1899. New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Abram P. T. Elder Papers, 1890-1916, (bulk 1903-1916) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Morton, Levi P. (Levi Parsons), 1824-1920,. Typewritten letter signed from Levi Parsons Morton to Warren W. Foster [manuscript], 1894 November 17. Folger Shakespeare Library
referencedIn New York State Governors Secretary letter books, 1883-1895 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn General Records of the Department of State, 1763 - 2002. Letters Received, 1789 - 1906 National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
creatorOf Smith, William Henry, 1833-1896. Papers. Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
referencedIn William J. Arkell Collection, 1881-1894 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Morton, Levi P. (Levi Parsons), 1824-1920. Letter : New York, to U.S. Grant, Washington, D.C., 1876 Dec. 28. Texas Christian University
creatorOf Calkin, Homer L. Autographs and autograph letters, 1799-1902. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Zachariah Chandler Papers, 1854-1899, (bulk 1854-1879) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Lord, Augustus Mendon, 1861-1941. Papers, 1795-1908. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of State, 1763 - 2002. Collected Manuscripts and Papers, ca. 1789 - 1918 National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
referencedIn Chauncey M. Depew papers, 1880-1925 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Letters sent to Walter Hines Page from various correspondents, English period, 1876-1937. Houghton Library
referencedIn John E. Boos collection 1863-2005 1863-1940 Boos, John E. collection William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Morton, Levi P. (Levi Parsons), 1824-1920. Correspondence [microform]. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Charles Lewis Slattery papers Houghton Library
referencedIn William Maxwell Evarts Papers, 1667-1918, (bulk 1877-1891) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Reynard, Michael,. Letters and documents, 1769-1974. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Barstow, Josiah Whitney, 1826-1922. Letters, 1909-1917, New York, N.Y., to John King Lord. New Hampshire Newspaper Project
creatorOf Finley, David E. (David Edward). Papers, 1915-1977. National Gallery of Art Library
referencedIn George Bliss Agnew papers, 1882-1925 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
George Bliss Agnew papers, 1882-1925 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Platt, Thomas Collier, 1833-1910. Thomas Collier Platt papers, 1851-1915 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf American Committee of the Statue of Liberty. American Committee of the Statue of Liberty correspondence, 1881-1901. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
creatorOf Edward Gay and Gay family papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Morton, Levi P. (Levi Parsons), 1824-1920. Letter of Levi P. Morton, Sept. 1., no year. Library of Congress
creatorOf Records of the American National Red Cross. 1881 - 2008. Official Administrative Documents National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Committee on the Centennial Celebration of the Inauguration of George Washington as President of the United States. Committee on Entertainment. Minutes, 1888-1889. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Ellerslie papers, 1714-1885. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
creatorOf Morton, Levi P. (Levi Parsons), 1824-1920. Papers, 1880-1889. New York State Library
creatorOf Depew, Chauncey M. (Chauncey Mitchell), 1834-1928. Chauncey M. Depew papers, 1880-1925. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Benjamin Harrison-related pictures [graphic], 1875-1988, bulk 1886-1901. Indiana Historical Society Library
referencedIn Henry Oscar Houghton additional papers, 1836-1977. Houghton Library
referencedIn F. Marion (Francis Marion) Crawford papers, 1864-1967 (inclusive), 1883-1908 (bulk). Houghton Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Abbey, Henry, 1842-1911 person
associatedWith Abbott, Lyman, 1835-1922 person
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associatedWith Bartholdi, Frédéric Auguste, 1834-1904 person
associatedWith Bartlett, Samuel Colcord, 1817-1898. person
associatedWith Beaver, James A. (James Addams), 1837-1914 person
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associatedWith Belmont, August, 1813-1890. person
associatedWith Benjamin Delano & Son. corporateBody
associatedWith Bissell, Wilson Shannon, 1847-1903 person
associatedWith Bliss, Cornelius Newton, 1833-1911 person
associatedWith Boos, J. E. (John E.) person
associatedWith Boutwell, George S. (George Sewall), 1818-1905 person
associatedWith Butler, Matthew Calbraith, 1836-1909 person
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associatedWith Butler, William Allen, 1825-1902 person
associatedWith Calkin, Homer L. person
associatedWith Cameron, Simon, 1799-1889 person
associatedWith Carney family family
associatedWith Carter, James C. (James Coolidge), 1827-1905 person
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correspondedWith Chandler, William E. (William Eaton), 1835-1917. person
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associatedWith Childs, George William, 1829-1894 person
associatedWith Choate, Joseph Hodges, 1832-1917 person
associatedWith Clay, Cassius Marcellus, 1810-1903 person
associatedWith Cole, Ashley T., 1876-1964, person
associatedWith Cole, Ashley W. person
associatedWith Committee on the Centennial Celebration of the Inauguration of George Washington as President of the United States. Committee on Entertainment. corporateBody
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associatedWith Coxe, A. Cleveland (Arthur Cleveland), 1818-1896 person
associatedWith Crawford, F. Marion (Francis Marion), 1854-1909. person
associatedWith Croes, John James Robertson, 1834-1906 person
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associatedWith Cuyler, Theodore L. (Theodore Ledyard), 1822-1909 person
associatedWith Dartmouth College. Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Davis, Cushman Kellogg, 1838-1900 person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
correspondedWith Depew, Chauncey M. (Chauncey Mitchell), 1834-1928. person
associatedWith De Peyster, J. Watts (John Watts), 1821-1907 person
associatedWith Dittenhoefer, Abram J. (Abram Jesse), 1836-1919 person
associatedWith Doane, William Croswell, 1832-1913 person
associatedWith Doremus, Robert Ogden, 1824-1906 person
associatedWith Egan, Patrick, b. 1841 person
associatedWith Elder, Abram P. T. (Abram Peter Turner) person
associatedWith Elkins, Stephen Benton, 1841-1911 person
associatedWith Evans, John Gary, 1863-1942 person
correspondedWith Evarts, William Maxwell, 1818-1901. person
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associatedWith Finch, Francis M. (Francis Miles), 1827-1907 person
associatedWith Finley, David E. (David Edward) person
associatedWith Flint, Austin, 1836-1915 person
associatedWith Flower, Roswell Pettibone, 1835-1899 person
associatedWith Forbes, W. Cameron (William Cameron), 1870-1959 person
correspondedWith Foster, Warren Woden, b. 1858 person
associatedWith Frye, William P. (William Pierce), 1831-1911 person
associatedWith Gay, Edward, 1837-1928. person
associatedWith Godkin, Edwin Lawrence, 1831-1902 person
associatedWith Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885 person
associatedWith Hale, Eugene, 1836-1918 person
associatedWith Hall, John, 1829-1898 person
correspondedWith Hamlin, Charles S. (Charles Sumner), 1861-1938. person
associatedWith Harris, F. McCready (Frances McCready) person
associatedWith Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901. person
associatedWith Hay, John, 1838-1905. person
associatedWith Herbert, H. A. (Hilary Abner), 1834-1919 person
associatedWith Higgins, Frank Wayland, 1856-1907 person
correspondedWith Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 1809-1894 person
correspondedWith Houghton, Henry Oscar, 1823-1895 person
associatedWith Huntington, Collis P. (Collis Potter), 1821-1900 person
associatedWith Huntington, F. D. (Frederic Dan), 1819-1904 person
associatedWith Hunt, Richard Morris, 1828-1895 person
associatedWith Ireland, John, 1838-1918 person
associatedWith Kearney family. family
correspondedWith King, Horatio, 1811-1897. person
correspondedWith King, Horatio C. (Horatio Collins), 1837-1918 person
associatedWith Lamont, Daniel Scott, 1851-1905 person
associatedWith Lippitt, Charles Warren, 1846-1924 person
associatedWith Littlejohn, Abram Newkirk, 1824-1901 person
associatedWith Lord, Augustus Mendon, 1861-1941. person
associatedWith Lowery, Grosvenor P. person
associatedWith MacCracken, Henry Mitchell, 1840-1918 person
associatedWith Matthews, Stanley, 1824-1889. person
associatedWith McElroy, Robert McNutt, 1872-1959. person
associatedWith McKelway, St. Clair, 1905-1980 person
associatedWith Metcalf, Lorettus Sutton, 1837-1920 person
associatedWith Miller, Warner, 1838-1918 person
associatedWith Morgan, Edwin D. (Edwin Denison), 1811-1883. person
associatedWith Morgan family. person
associatedWith Morris, George Perry, person
associatedWith Morton, Anna Livingston person
associatedWith Morton, Anna Livingston. person
associatedWith Morton, Bliss & Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Morton, Daniel Oliver, 1788-1852. person
associatedWith Morton family family
associatedWith Morton family. family
associatedWith Morton, Lucy K. person
associatedWith Morton, Lucy Kimball person
associatedWith Nast, Thomas, 1840-1902. person
associatedWith New York (State) $bGovernor. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Governor. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Governor (1895-1897 : Morton) corporateBody
associatedWith Olney, Richard, 1835- person
associatedWith Ottendorfer, Oswald, 1826-1900 person
associatedWith Page, Walter Hines, 1855-1918 person
associatedWith Parkhurst, Charles H. (Charles Henry), 1831-1889 person
associatedWith Parsons family family
associatedWith Parsons family. family
associatedWith Pinchot, Gifford, 1865-1946 person
associatedWith Platt, Thomas Collier, 1833-1910. person
associatedWith Porter, Horace, 1837-1921 person
associatedWith Potter, Henry Codman, 1835-1908 person
associatedWith Redfield, William Cox, 1858-1932 person
associatedWith Reed, Thomas Brackett, 1839-1902 person
associatedWith Republican Party (N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Reynard, Michael, person
associatedWith Rhodes, James Ford, 1848-1927 person
associatedWith Robinson, Magnus. person
associatedWith Root, Elihu, 1845-1937 person
associatedWith Ruger, Thomas Howard, 1833-1909 person
associatedWith Sage, Russell, 1816-1906 person
associatedWith Sanborn, Edwin David, 1808-1885. person
associatedWith Schurman, Jacob Gould, 1854-1942 person
associatedWith Scribner, Gilbert Hilton, 1831-1910 person
associatedWith Sedgwick, C. B. (Charles Baldwin), 1815-1883 person
associatedWith Seward, Clarence A. (Clarence Armstrong), 1828-1897 person
associatedWith Seward, Frederick William, 1830-1915 person
associatedWith Shaw, Albert D. (Albert Duane), 1841-1901. person
associatedWith Shepherd, Alexander Robey, 1835-1902. person
correspondedWith Sherman, John, 1796-1841 person
associatedWith Sigel, Franz, 1824-1902 person
associatedWith Slattery, Charles Lewis, 1867-1930 person
associatedWith Smith, Asa D. (Asa Dodge), 1804-1877. person
associatedWith Smith, William Henry, 1833-1896. person
associatedWith Stone, William Joel, 1848-1918 person
associatedWith Straus, Nathan, 1848-1931 person
associatedWith Street family family
associatedWith Street family. family
associatedWith Tracy, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1830-1915 person
associatedWith United States. Congress. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. House of Representatives corporateBody
employeeOf United States. Department of State corporateBody
associatedWith United States. President (1861-1865 : Lincoln). corporateBody
associatedWith Waite, Morrison R. (Morrison Remick), 1816-1888 person
associatedWith Walcott, Charles D. (Charles Doolittle), 1850-1927 person
associatedWith Wanamaker, John, 1838-1922 person
associatedWith Waring, George E. (George Edwin), 1833-1898 person
associatedWith Washington, Booker T., 1856-1915 person
associatedWith Webb, Alexander S. (Alexander Stewart), 1835-1911. person
associatedWith Wellman, Francis Lewis, 1854-1942 person
associatedWith Weston, Edward Payson, 1839-1929 person
associatedWith Whitney, William Collins, 1841-1904 person
associatedWith Willey House (N.H.) corporateBody
associatedWith Williams, Henry Shaler, 1847-1918 person
associatedWith Woodford, Stewart L. (Stewart Lyndon), 1835-1913 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York City NY US
Rhinebeck NY US
Shoreham VT US
District of Columbia DC US
Boscawen NH US
Boston MA US
Paris A8 FR
Albany NY US
Hanover NH US
Enfield MA US
Subject
Slavery
Banks and banking
Business
Diplomacy
Elections
Elections
Governors
New York (State)
Patronage, Political
Politics, government and public administration
Occupation
Teachers
Bankers
Businessmen
Diplomats
Governors
Politicians
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Vice presidents
Activity

Person

Birth 1824-05-16

Death 1920-05-16

Male

Americans

English

Information

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