He won a place at grammar school, but left at age fourteen to work as a coal miner, because of his family's financial difficulties.
[2] Morgan was a conscientious objector during World War II, on the ground of his Welsh nationalist beliefs.
In 1941 Morgan and another man, Ted Merriman, were imprisoned for a month on the charge of insulting behaviour after they turned their backs during the playing of God Save the King at an event held in Aberystwyth.
He was one of the founders of the Welsh Republican Movement, set up in September 1949, after a difference of opinion led to around fifty Plaid Cymru members walking out of a conference.
[1] Morgan's election campaigns were unsuccessful, and he decided to focus on promoting independent Welsh businesses.