John Morton received a practical education in surveying from his stepfather, who himself was a surveyor from England. Morton entered politics in 1756, when he was elected to the Provincial Assembly, and later became president of the Assembly in 1775. He participated in the Stamp Act Congress in 1765 and held various civil positions in Pennsylvania, including High Sheriff, Justice of the Peace, and Presiding Judge of the General Court and the Court of Common Pleas. In 1774, he was appointed Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Morton was elected to the Continental Congress in 1774 and served on several committees. He chaired the committee that reported the Articles of Confederation, and died shortly after presenting it to Congress at the age of 53.
