Researching Thomas Morgan

Morgan received his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in zoology in 1890 and researched embryology during his tenure at Bryn Mawr. Following the rediscovery of Mendelian inheritance in 1900, Morgan began to study the genetic characteristics of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. In his famous Fly Room at Columbia University's Schermerhorn Hall, Morgan demonstrated that genes are carried on chromosomes and are the mechanical basis of heredity. These discoveries formed the basis of the modern science of genetics.

During his distinguished career, Morgan wrote 22 books and 370 scientific papers. As a result of his work, Drosophila became a major model organism in contemporary genetics. The Division of Biology which he established at the California Institute of Technology has produced seven Nobel Prize winners.

Morgan represented Brecon in the House of Commons from 1754 until 1763. That year, he accepted the Stewardship of the Manor of Old Shoreham to succeed his late cousin, Sir William Morgan in Monmouthshire, which he represented from 1763 until his death in 1771.

He was briefly Lord Lieutenant of Brecknockshire and Monmouthshire in succession to his father, who died in 1769. Morgan died unmarried, and left his estates (Rhiwperra Castle and Tredegar House) to his younger brother Charles Morgan.

The eldest son of Sir William Morgan and his first wife Blanche, Morgan inherited his father's estate upon the latter's death in 1680. He married Martha Mansel, by whom he had several children, all of whom predeceased him.

Morgan entered the House of Commons in 1689 as Member of Parliament for Brecon, and was High Sheriff of Monmouthshire the same year. In 1690, he sat as MP for Monmouthshire instead, and continued to be returned there for the rest of his life. He also unseated Jeffrey Jeffreys at Brecon in 1698, who appealed on petition. Before the matter could be resolved, Morgan died of smallpox in 1700. His estates, valued at £7000, went to his brother Sir John Morgan.

Morgan was the younger son of Sir John Morgan and his wife Martha Vaughan, daughter of Gwyn Vaughan of Trebarried, Breconshire. He received the estate of Rhiwpera upon his father's death in 1720.

Morgan was returned as Member of Parliament for Brecon at a by-election on 24 May 1723. He was returned in a contest for Brecon at the 1727 British general election. In 1731, he succeeded his brother, Sir William Morgan, as Lord Lieutenant of Brecknockshire and Monmouthshire, and was appointed brigadier-general of the militia of those counties. At the 1734 British general election, he was returned unopposed as MP for Monmouthshire, and was returned there again at the 1741 British general election. Also in 1741 was appointed Judge Advocate General, by which he became known as "General Morgan". He was returned for Breconshire at the 1747 British general election.

Morgan was returned unopposed for Breconshire again in 1754, 1761 and 1768. Upon the death of his nephew Sir William Morgan in 1763, he inherited the Tredegar Estate. In 1768, he resigned the office of Judge Advocate General, and was succeeded by his deputy and son-in-law Charles Gould.

Morgan died on 12 April 1769. Around 1726, he had married Jane Colchester, the second daughter of Col. Maynard Colchester. His children by her included:*Sir Thomas Morgan (1717–1771)*Jane Morgan (1731–1797), married Charles Gould, later Sir Charles Gould Morgan, 1st Baronet*Catherine Morgan (d. 1784), married Charles Van*Sir Charles Morgan (1736–1787)*Sir John Morgan (1742–1792)

For part of his career he worked in partnership Bruce & Morgan

A number of his works, individually or in partnership, are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Works individually credited to him (with attribution variations) include:*Burns Cottage, 988 Alloway Pl., SE Atlanta, GA (Morgan, Thomas H.), NRHP-listed*Carnegie Library, jct. of Bellevue, Academy, and Jackson Sts. Dublin, GA (Morgan, Thomas H.), NRHP-listed*W. D. Grant Building, built 1898, Chicago style, 44 Broad St., NW Atlanta, GA (Morgan, Thomas Henry), NRHP-listed*Haralson County Courthouse, Courthouse Sq. Buchanan, GA (Morgan, Thomas H.), NRHP-listed*North Avenue Presbyterian Church, 607 Peachtree Ave., NE Atlanta, GA (Morgan, Thomas Henry), NRHP-listed