Adolf Bredo Stabell, chief editor from 1831 to 1857, made Morgenbladet an important force of opposition, both in politics and literature.

[9] The leadership of Christian Friele, from 1857 to 1893,[10] turned Morgenbladet into the leading conservative news outlet in Norway.

[11] When the new chief editor Rolv Werner Erichsen was sent to the Grini detention camp by the German occupying force in 1943, the newspaper was discontinued for the remainder of the war.

After the war Morgenbladet struggled to survive, partly because it refused to give in to commercialism and carry ads.

It was relaunched as an independent commentary newspaper in 1987 under editor Hans Geelmuyden, who resigned along with most of the editorial staff after numerous conflicts with the owner Hroar Hansen.

In 2003 ownership once again changed, when the newspaper was bought by Fritt Ord (a free speech foundation), Forlagskonsult AS/Bjørn Smith-Simonsen and Dagsavisen.

[14] From 2016, Morgenbladet's headquarters are co-located with NHST Media Group and Dagens Næringsliv at Akerselva Atrium.