Charles Gould Morton

Charles Gould Morton (January 15, 1861 – July 18, 1933) was an American major general during World War I.

Early life Charles Gould Morton was born on January 15, 1861, to Allen and Mary Morton in Cumberland, Maine. He attended the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York, and graduated in June 1883 with the class of 1883. Several of his classmates would go on to become general officers in their careers, such as Chase W. Kennedy, George H. Cameron, Harry C. Hale, George W. Read, John W. Heard, Ira A. Haynes, Samson L. Faison, William C. Langfitt, Robert D. Walsh, Omar Bundy, Tyree R. Rivers, John W. Ruckman, Isaac Littell and Clarence R. Edwards.

Military career Major General Charles Pelot Summerall, sat in the middle, along with members of his staff and senior commanders in his V Corps, pictured here in 1918 or 1919. Major General Charles G. Morton, commanding the 29th Division, is sat to Summerall's right.

Morton accepted a commission as an infantry officer and served on the frontier until 1888. From 1889 to 1890, Morton was a professor of Military Science at the Florida Agricultural College.

For most of his military career, Morton served with the 6th Infantry Regiment. Morton served with the regiment in the Philippines from January 1900 to June 1902 and August 1905 to June 1907. He graduated from the United States Army War College in June 1905.

Morton then commanded the Ninth Corps Area, which had its headquarters at the Presidio of San Francisco.

Awards Morton received the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his service during World War I, the citation for which reads:

Morton also received the Croix de Guerre with two palms and the title of Commander of the Legion of Honor.

Personal life Morton married Ida Hastings on October 15, 1885. She died in 1921, and Morton subsequently married Eleanor Moorhead Huff on June 14, 1922. He and his second wife lived in Saratoga, California, after his retirement from active duty.

Death and legacy Morton died on July 18, 1933, in San Francisco, California from a tetanus infection after suffering a burn in a firecracker accident on July 4. He was cremated and interred at Arlington National Cemetery beside his first wife and her parents on July 27, 1933.

The transport ship was named in his honor and saw service in World War II and the Korean War.