[1] James Morgan was born on 29 September 1816 in Longford, Ireland, the son of Michael, a local farmer.

[3] He spent a few years in the Brisbane Water district in New South Wales before managing the property of W. C. Wentworth on the Namoi River until the end of 1847.

Later as the vessel berthed at Brisbane, he fell from the gangway to the wharf, causing a compound fracture of the right leg above the ankle.

Despite his illness, he tried to contest the 1878 Queensland colonial election held on 19 November, but was defeated by Jacob Horwitz.

A special train was arranged so his son The funeral cortege was nearly a mile long, comprising over 110 vehicles and estimated to contain at least 1200 people, including Queensland Premier John Douglas and other parliamentarians.