Charles Eldridge Morgan Jr. (1844–1917) was a Civil War veteran who co-founded the law firm Morgan Lewis at Philadelphia in 1873 with fellow lawyer Francis Draper Lewis. He was twice vice-president of the Philadelphia Law Academy, and served the City of Philadelphia as its first Assistant City Solicitor, and as a member of its Boards of Education and City Trusts.

Early life and family

Following his family's 1844 relocation from New Jersey to Pennsylvania,Morgan, Appleton A history of the family of Morgan, from the year 1089 to present times, New York, US, 1902, page 237. Retrieved October 17, 2018. Morgan was born on September 23, 1844, in Philadelphia, the first child of Charles Eldridge Morgan and Jane Bowen Morgan (née Buck).UPENN "Charles Eldridge Morgan (1844-1917)", PENN BIOGRAPHIES, University of Pennsylvania Archives and Records Center. Retrieved October 15, 2018.

His brother, Randal (1853–1926), also graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, in 1873, and joined Morgan's newly opened law firm, then became, in 1882, the first vice-president of its principle client firm, United Gas Improvement Company (later UGI Corporation). Oberholtzer, Ellis P. Philadelphia; a history of the city and its people, a record of 225 years, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1912, page 24. Retrieved October 18, 2018.Brown, E. C."MEN OF THE TIMES—IV", Progressive Age, Vol 26, No. 16, The Progressive Age Publishing Company, New York, US, August 15, 1908, page 484. Retrieved October 18, 2018.Warwick, Charles Franklin Warwick's Keystone Commonwealth: A Review of the History of the Great State of Pennsylvania, and a Brief Record of the Growth of Its Chief City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, 1913, page 371. Retrieved October 15, 2018.

Another brother, John Buck (1847–1919), graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, as well, receiving degrees in 1866 and 1869, and played on the cricket team captained by Morgan; he became a successful manufacturer, merchant and financier who served on the Boards of several Philadelphia institutions.SAR Proceedings of the Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the Revolution, 1919 - 1920, Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, 1920, page 61. Retrieved October 18, 2018.American Men of Mark One Thousand American Men of Mark of To-day: Twentieth Century Edition de Luxe. A National Perpetual Record of Progressive Men of America who Have Attained Some Prominence in the Various Social, Commercial and Industrial Affairs, Chicago, Illinois, US; 1916, page 145. Retrieved October 22, 2018.

Morgan married Elizabeth Belsham "Lillie" Merrick,Eldridge, Susan Badenhausen "Charles Eldridge Morgan Jr.", BADENHAUSEN & MORGAN FAMILY GENEALOGY, Retrieved October 18, 2018. daughter of Thomas B. Merrick and Elizabeth M. White, on April 27, 1875, at Philadelphia, with whom he had three children: Charles Eldridge Morgan III, who joined him at his firm in the practice of law; Elizabeth Merrick Morgan Perry; and Hallowell Vaughn Morgan.Warwick, Charles Franklin Warwick's Keystone Commonwealth: A Review of the History of the Great State of Pennsylvania, and a Brief Record of the Growth of Its Chief City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, 1913, page 407. Retrieved October 15, 2018.SAR Proceedings of the Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the Revolution, 1916-1917, Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, 1917, page 50. Retrieved October 18, 2018.

Education

Morgan attended Germantown schools, then the University of Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in 1864.UPENN "Necrology", OLD PENN Magazine, University of Pennsylvania Gazette, Volume XV, Issue 11, March 9, 1917, page 298. Retrieved October 15, 2018.

The Landis Battery

Morgan's studies were interrupted by the American Civil War, when he organized Landis' Battery in response to General Robert E. Lee's raid through Pennsylvania. Stationed at Carlisle during June through August 1863, as first-line reserves for the Battle of Gettysburg; contrary to some reports, the Battery did not see action at that historic engagement.UPENN "Necrology", OLD PENN Magazine, University of Pennsylvania Gazette, Volume XV, Issue 11, March 9, 1917, page 298. Retrieved October 20, 2018.

Cricket

Morgan was captain of the University of Pennsylvania's 1864 cricket team, on which his brother, John Buck Morgan (1847 - 1919), also played; the team was distinguished by playing the first intercollegiate cricket match in the college's history, against Haverford College, on May 7, 1864.Tannenbaum, Seth S., et al "CRICKET: PENN'S FIRST ORGANIZED SPORT – 1864 Team", by Seth S. Tannenbaum and Clifton R. Hood, University of Pennsylvania Archives and Records Center, February 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2018. He later co-founded the Germantown Cricket Club.SAR Proceedings of the Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the Revolution, 1916-1917, Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, 1917, page 51. Retrieved October 16, 2018.

Career

Following his Civil War service; Morgan read law in the office of Judge William A. Porter, then was admitted to the bar in 1868. Five years later, he co-founded Morgan & Lewis with Francis Draper Lewis, on March 10, 1873, and remained an active practitioner throughout his career. In 1878, City Solicitor William Nelson West (co-founder of the banking firm Henry & West with W. Barklie Henry)Barnes, Andrew Wallace, et al History of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Banks and Banking, Cornelius Baker, Inc, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, 1911, page 74. Retrieved October 15, 2018. appointed Morgan Philadelphia's first Assistant City Solicitor, an office he retained until 1884.Warwick, Charles Franklin Warwick's Keystone Commonwealth: A Review of the History of the Great State of Pennsylvania, and a Brief Record of the Growth of Its Chief City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, 1913, page 407. Retrieved October 15, 2018.

He served as vice-president of the Philadelphia Law Academy in 1869, and 1878 to 1885,Law Academy Law Lectures, Law Academy of Philadelphia, 1874, page 32. Retrieved October 15, 2018. and on the Board of Education for five years, followed by the Board of City Trusts for Philadelphia.Warwick, Charles Franklin Warwick's Keystone Commonwealth: A Review of the History of the Great State of Pennsylvania, and a Brief Record of the Growth of Its Chief City, Philadelphia, 1913 - Pennsylvania, US, page 407. Retrieved October 15, 2018.

References

External links Dodd, Arthur H. "Morgan Family of Llantarnam, Monmouthshire", Welsh Biography Online, National Library of Wales, 1959.