Levi Parsons Morton

Levi Parsons Morton (1824-1920), 22nd vice president of the United States (1889-93), born in Shoreham, Vermont. He engaged in business in Hanover, New Hampshire, and Boston before settling in New York City in 1854. In 1863 he founded the investment banking house of Levi P. Morton & Company, later named Morton, Bliss & Company. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1879-81) and was the U.S. minister to France (1881-85). In 1888 he was elected vice president, running on the Republican ticket with Benjamin Harrison. From 1895 to 1897 Morton was governor of New York. In 1899 he organized the Morton Trust Company, which later merged with the Guaranty Trust Company.