Philip H. Morgan Explained

Philip Hicky Morgan
Office:41st United States Minister to Mexico
Term Start:January 26, 1880
Term End:June 6, 1885
Predecessor:John W. Foster
Successor:Henry R. Jackson
President:Rutherford B. Hayes
Office2:Judge of the International Tribunal
Term Start2:1876
Term End2:1880
Predecessor2:None (position created)
Successor2:Elbert E. Farman
Office3:Associate Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court
Term Start3:1873
Term End3:1876
Predecessor3:John H. Kennard
Successor3:John E. Leonard
Office4:United States Attorney for the District of Louisiana
Term Start4:1869
Term End4:1870
Predecessor4:Samuel H. Torrey
Successor4:Alanson B. Long
Term Start5:1866
Term End5:1867
Predecessor5:Samuel H . Torrey
Successor5:Samuel H. Torrey
Birth Date:November 9, 1825
Birth Place:Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Death Place:New York, New York, U.S.
Resting Place:Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Party:Republican
Spouse:Beatrice Leslie Ford (m. 1852-1900, his death)
Children:9
Profession:Lawyer

Philip H. Morgan (November 9, 1825 – August 12, 1900) was an attorney, jurist, and diplomat from Louisiana who remained loyal to the Union during the American Civil War. A Republican, among the offices in which he served were Associate Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court (1873-1877), Judge of the International Tribunal in Alexandria, Egypt (1878-1880), and Minister to Mexico (1880-1885).

Biography

Philip Hicky Morgan (sometimes spelled "Hickey" was born in Baton Rouge on August 9, 1825,[1] a son of Thomas Gibbes (sometimes spelled "Gibbs") Morgan and the former Eliza Ann McKennan.[2] He was named for Colonel Philip Hicky, a Louisiana plantation owner and friend of his father.[3] He was educated locally and then attended the University of Paris in France from 1841 to 1846.[2] He was fluent in several languages, including French and Spanish, and translated Louisiana's civil code into both languages.[4]

Morgan joined the military for the Mexican–American War and attained the rank of first lieutenant as a member of Company K, 1st Louisiana Volunteer Militia Regiment.[5] After attaining admission to the bar, he joined his father's law practice in Baton Rouge in 1848.[2] In 1853, he relocated his practice to New Orleans and continued there until the 1870s.[2]

Morgan was a judge of the 2nd District Court of Louisiana from 1853 to 1857.[2] During the American Civil War, Morgan remained loyal to the Union.[2] After the war, President Andrew Johnson nominated him as the U.S. attorney in New Orleans.[2] He served from 1866 to 1867, but left office after the United States Senate did not approve the nomination.[2] The appointment was made again by Johnson's successor, Ulysses S. Grant. The Senate approved, and Morgan served from 1869 to 1870.[2]

From 1873 to 1876, Morgan was an associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court.[1] In 1876, he became judge of the International Tribunal in Alexandria, Egypt, an appointment that bridged the Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes administrations.[1] President Hayes named him Minister to Mexico, a position that he held from January 26, 1880 to June 6, 1885.[1]

After the assignment to Mexico, Morgan practiced law in New York City from 1885 to 1900.[2] He died in New York City and was interred at Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[1]

Family

In 1852, Morgan married Beatrice Ford (1826-1905), a native of Baton Rouge.[6] They were the parents of nine children, five of whom survived to adulthood.[2]

Morgan was the grandfather of Harry Hays Morgan Jr.,[7] great-grandfather of Gloria Vanderbilt and great-great-grandfather of Anderson Cooper.[8] In addition, he was the grand-uncle of Cecil Morgan.

Additional reading

Notes and References

  1. News: August 14, 1900 . Death Notice: Philip H. Morgan, New York . . New Orleans, LA . 7 . Newspapers.com.
  2. Web site: Dictionary of Louisiana Biography . LA History.org . Louisiana Historical Association . Baton Rouge, LA . June 20, 2020.
  3. Book: Jeffrey . Katherine Bentley . 2016 . Two Civil Wars: The Curious Shared Journal of a Baton Rouge Schoolgirl and a Union Sailor on the USS Essex . Baton Rouge, LA . Louisiana State University Press . 14 . 978-0-8071-6226-2 . Google Books.
  4. News: Leslie . Frank . February 21, 1880 . Hon. Philip H. Morgan . Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper . New York, NY . 461 . Google Books.
  5. Web site: Mexican War Service Record Index, Philip H. Morgan . Fold 3 . Ancestry.com . Lehi, UT . June 20, 2020 . subscription.
  6. News: August 14, 1900 . Ex-Minister Morgan Dies in New York . . New Orleans, LA . 12 . Newspapers.com.
  7. Web site: Family Ties – Kilpatrick Part II . Smeltzer . Harry . April 28, 2008 . Bull Runnings: A Journal of the Digitization of a Civil War Battle . Harry Smeltzer . Pittsburgh, PA . June 20, 2020 . .
  8. Web site: Sarah Morgan After the War . Brackman . Barbara . January 4, 2014 . Civil War Quilts . Barbara Brackman . June 20, 2020 . .