Background
He was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, the son of a clergyman.
Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom
He was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, the son of a clergyman.
He acquired the gold mine at Gwynfynydd in 1887, earning the name "Welsh gold king". He was also actively publicised as an investor in Sichuan, China. In early life he was a solicitor in Queensland, Australia, having been articled at Ipswich and Maryborough.
He then speculated in mining shares.
The constituency had two members, the other being the Liberal David Alfred Thomas, 1st Viscount Rhondda: there was antagonism between the two Liberals, however, and in 1900 Thomas backed Hardie. He was in favour of Welsh disestablishment, making a lengthy parliamentary speech on a resolution in 1891.
A major political issue between them was attitude to the Second Boer War, supported by Morgan who was on the Liberal imperialist wing of the party.
24th United Kingdom Parliament. 25th United Kingdom Parliament. 26th United Kingdom Parliament]
He was a Liberal Member of Parliament for Merthyr Tydfil, from 1888 to 1900, when he was defeated, losing his seat to Keir Hardie.