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[[File:Johnmorton.jpg|right|200px|thumb| John Morton]]
'''John Morton''' (b. 1724; d. April 1, 1777) is a founding father of [[America]], an extensive legal career as a Justice, presided in the [[Stamp Act Congress]], Chairman of the committee which reported the [[Articles of Confederation]], <ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/morton.htm John Morton, UShistory.org</ref> and signed the [[Declaration of Independence]]. Noted for his intelligence and hard work.
==Early Life==
John was born in Ridley, Chester County [[Pennsylvania]], now called Delaware County. He was the great-grandson of [[Swedish]] immigrants. At a young age, John's father died and he was raised by his [[English]] stepfather John Sketchley. John Morton was raised a farm boy and started out in surveying. In 1748 he married Ann Justis and they had eight children.
==Politics==
Morton was elected in 1756, for a decade he would serve in the Provincial Assembly, sometimes as Speaker. He filled numerous civil offices in Pennsylvania such as [[Justice of the Peace]] and Sheriff. In 1774, John was elected to the [[Continental Congress]], Morton supported the vote for [[independence]] and signed the Declaration. John wouldn't live to see his oversight of the Articles of Confederation get ratified.
==Death==
Before signing, his sympathies were with the British. When he changed his mind for independence his friends, relatives, neighbors turned against him and it affected his health. Just eight short months after signing the Declaration he was dead. His last spoken words on his deathbed were, ''"Tell them they will live to see the hour when they shall acknowledge my signing of the Declaration of Independence to have been the most glorious service that I ever rendered my country."''
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:American Revolution]]
[[Category:Founding Fathers]]