Morton, John

1. Dates

Born: England, c.1671 born between 18 July 1670 and 18 July 1671.

Died: Great Oxzendon, Northamptonshire, 18 July 1726

Dateinfo: Birth Uncertain

Lifespan: 55

2. Father

Occupation: Unknown

No information on financial status.

3. Nationality

Birth: English

Career: English

Death: English

4. Education

Schooling:

Cambridge University, Emmanuel College; B.A., 1691; M.A., 1695.

ad enundem degree at Oxford, 1694.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Anglican

He was a clergyman in the Anglican Church.

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Natural History

Morton's only publication was The Natural History of Northamptonshire, 1712. In this work he followed Woodward's proposition that the delyde was responsible for the geological features of the county and for its fossils.

7. Means of Support

Primary: Church Life

Curate of Great Oxendon, 1694-1706.

Rector of Great Oxendon, 1706-26.

8. Patronage

Types: Aristrocrat, Gentry

I have not found who preferred Morton at Great Oxendon.

In a letter of 1704 Morton speaks of the encouragement of gentlemen and noblemen of Northamptonshire, which enables him to pursue his natural history of the county. The work was published by subscription, the new device then coming into practice. I have not been able to see a copy of the book and do not know who subscribed, except that a letter mentions Sir Walter Hawkesworth as one of them.

9. Technological Involvement

Types: None

10. Scientific Societies

Membership: Royal Society

Informal Connections: Friendship with John Ray; correspondence with Sloane, Dr. Richardson, Dr. John Woodward, and Lhwyd.

Royal Society, 1703-26.

Sources

1. Dictionary of National Biography (repr., London: Oxford University Press, 1949-50), 13, 1050-1. Nichols, Illustrations of the Literaturary History of the 18th Century, 1, 324-7.
2. H.T. Wake, "Epitaph on the Rev. John Morton," Notes and Queries, Ist ser., 6, 358.
3. Richard Pulteney, Historical and Biographical Sketches of the Progress of Botany in England, (London 1790), 1, 354-5.

Compiled by:

Richard S. Westfall

Department of History and Philosophy of Science

Indiana University

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