[2] As this method was both dangerous and time-consuming, in 1818 he invented and installed the first patent slip; a slipway with cradle to haul ships out of the water.
[2] In 1824 Morton sued John Barclay in Edinburgh for patent infringement after he had installed a similar design in the yards of his company, Stobcross, three years before.
Barclay's version was described as a poor copy by fellow shipwright William Denny, and the court found in favour of Morton.
The extension was denied and instead a House of Commons select committee awarded Morton the sum of £2500.
His son Hugh Morton (1812-1878) continued the family business but moved the main premises from Cooper St/ Coburg St to Leith Walk on a site later used as a tram depot, attaching his house at 3 Smiths Place.