Career
Morgan is thought to have been born in Carmarthen, south Wales, where he became employed by noted architect and planner John Nash – an association which was to last some 40 years. As a master-planner, Nash often left the completion of projects to his assistants and Morgan was no exception. His 1811 masterplan for Regent"s Park and the surrounding areas, for example, saw Morgan gainfully employed in supervising much of the park"s layout.
That same year, Nash was approached by Thomas Homer to join a venture to construct a canal across north central London.
Morgan, again, became responsible for the project"s details, his plans formed the basis for the Regent"s Canal Acting passed by Parliament in 1812 and he was subsequently appointed the company’s engineer Although not a civil engineer of anything like the stature of contemporaries such as Thomas Telford, Morgan rose to the challenge of designing and supervising bridges, tunnels, basins and docks.
The tunnel opened in 1820 and Morgan retained his role with the company for a further 15 years. Morgan"s other projects included: proposals (never realised) to canalise a stretch of the River Stour to Canterbury in Kent, a terrace of houses in Leamington Spa (with Nash) in 1827, Street George"s Church, Wolverhampton (1828-1830), and alterations to Bushbury Church, to the north of Wolverhampton (also 1830).
He died in London, and is buried in Brompton Cemetery.