The son of
John Morton and his wife Jean Chalmers, he was born on 1 July 1821. He was educated at
Merchistoun Castle School, Edinburgh, under his famous uncle Charles Chalmers. He then attended university lectures, took the first prize for mathematics, and was a student in
David Low's agricultural classes. In 1838 Morton went to assist his father on the Whitfield Example Farm, and shortly joined the newly formed
Royal Agricultural Society. He became editor of the
Agricultural Gazette on its foundation in 1844; it took him to London, and the post continued for the rest of his life. When
David Low retired in 1854 from his chair at Edinburgh, Morton ran the classes till the appointment of
John Wilson. He was inspector under the land commissioners, and also served for six years (1868–74) with
Edward Frankland and Sir
William Denison on the Royal Commission on pollution of rivers. The commission heard his concerns on abattoir waste. Morton died at his Harrow residence on 3 May 1888. ==Works==