He trained for a business career by clerking in stores and working in mercantile establishments in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

After relocating to New York City, Morton became a successful merchant, cotton broker, and investment banker.

Garfield then offered the vice presidential nomination to another Conkling ally, Chester A. Arthur, who accepted.

[3] Morton was named for his mother's brother Reverend Levi Parsons (1792–1822), a clergyman who was also the first U.S. missionary to work in Palestine.

Morton headed the congregation during the construction of the brick colonial revival-style church on Main Street that is still in use.

[9]: 408 Morton decided on a business career, and in 1838 he began work as a general store clerk in Enfield, Massachusetts.

[4] He eventually settled in New York City, where he entered the dry goods business in partnership with George Blake Grinnell and became a successful cotton broker.

[10] After the war, Morton and his British partner, Sir John Rose, recovered their financial positions and improved their political fortunes by using their contacts to assist the United States and England to settle the Alabama Claims.

[10] In recognition of his service to the party, President Rutherford B. Hayes appointed Morton as an honorary commissioner to the Paris Exhibition of 1878.

[23] Identified with the Stalwart faction of Republicans led by Roscoe Conkling, in 1878 Morton was elected to represent Manhattan in the 46th Congress.

[24] On the currency issue, which dominated discussions of U.S. economic policy for several decades, Morton consistently advocated for the gold standard.

[25] James A. Garfield, who was not affiliated with either faction, but was a friend of Blaine, won the nomination[25] and attempted to win over Stalwarts by asking Morton to be his vice presidential running mate.

[4] He helped commercial relations between the two countries run smoothly during his term, and in Paris on October 24, 1881, he placed the first rivet in the construction of the Statue of Liberty.

[4] He lost the Republican nomination to William M. Evarts, who went on to win election by the full New York State Legislature.

[4] Incumbent Warner Miller was recognized as a member of the Half-Breed faction, and had succeeded state Republican boss Thomas C. Platt in the Senate.

[27] After 17 ballots failed to produce a nominee, Morton withdrew and asked his supporters to back Hiscock to ensure that Miller would not be reelected.

[10] In an echo of the Stalwart-Half Breed rivalry, Blaine backed Phelps for vice president, but the New York delegation, led by Thomas C. Platt refused to consider him.

[28] It quickly became apparent that Morton had enough delegate support to win, and he attained the nomination on the first ballot with 591 votes to 119 for Phelps, 103 for Bradley, and 11 for Blanche K.

[10] A major Harrison initiative was the Lodge Bill, which would permit the use of federal force to ensure the voting rights of male African Americans in the former Confederacy.

[10] Southern Democrats conducted a filibuster, believing the bill would restore Reconstruction era-like Republican rule.

[10] Republicans from the western states who supported free silver believed the most pressing issue was the need for an inflated currency to stimulate the economy.

[10] The Lodge Bill reached the Senate floor when a tie enabled Morton to cast the deciding vote in favor of consideration.

[10] At the 1892 Republican National Convention, Harrison was nominated for reelection but delegates replaced Morton with Whitelaw Reid.

[31] In 1894, Morton was elected governor of New York, defeating Democratic nominee David B. Hill and several minor party candidates.

[10] Morton pursued a moderate course on the issue, but remained firm in his support, which placed him in opposition to political party bosses who favored the spoils system.

[34] Morton became ill during the winter of 1919 to 1920; a cold developed into bronchitis, and he eventually contracted pneumonia, which proved fatal.

[63] Morton spent summers in Newport, Rhode Island, at a Bellevue Avenue mansion called "Fairlawn".

[64] The home is now owned by Salve Regina University and houses the Pell Center of International Relations and Public Policy.

[67] Morton also owned a summer retreat on Eagle Island on Upper Saranac Lake in the Adirondack Park.

[68] A likeness of Morton is included in the United States Senate Vice Presidential Bust Collection at the U.S.