About Thomas Morton
Lived 1781 – 1832 (aged 51). Thomas Morton was an inventor and shipwright, known for Patent slip.
Thomas Morton (8 October 1781 – 24 December 1832) was a Scottish shipwright and inventor. His most widely known invention is the patent slip. He was granted a patent for the invention the following year.
Morton died in December 1832 and is interred in South Leith Parish Churchyard .
Memorials
Thomas Morton Hall, a performance hall holding up to 400 persons and sharing the Leith Town Hall with the Leith Theatre, is named after him. It was built in 1925.
Ships built by S. & H. Morton & Co. Wendouree, launched in 1882 and wreck in Australia in 1898. Tom Morton, launched in 1872 for Christian Salvesen; it was lost at sea in 1886.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Thomas Morton's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Thomas Morton?
Scottish shipwright
When was Thomas Morton born?
Thomas Morton was born on 8 October 1781.
When did Thomas Morton die?
Thomas Morton died on 24 December 1832.
What was Thomas Morton's occupation?
Thomas Morton was an inventor and shipwright.
What was Thomas Morton known for?
Thomas Morton was known for Patent slip.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Thomas Morton (shipwright)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Thomas Morton. https://biography.guide/thomas-morton-inventor/
MLA: "Thomas Morton." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/thomas-morton-inventor/.
Chicago: "Thomas Morton." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/thomas-morton-inventor/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:26 UTC