Charles Waln Morgan (1796–1861)
Charles Waln Morgan was a prominent New Bedford merchant and one of the city’s leading figures during the height of the American whaling industry. Born in Philadelphia in 1796, Morgan came to New Bedford in the early 19th century, where he invested in the lucrative whaling trade that would soon define the city’s global reputation.
Morgan became best known as the principal owner of the whaleship Charles W. Morgan, launched in 1841. Built at the Hillman Brothers Shipyard on the Acushnet River, the vessel would go on to complete 37 voyages across every ocean in the world, making it the most successful American whaleship in history. Today, the Charles W. Morgan is preserved at Mystic Seaport Museum as the last surviving wooden whaleship from the 19th century.
Beyond his role as a ship owner, Morgan contributed to New Bedford’s civic and religious life, supporting institutions such as the Seamen’s Bethel through the New Bedford Port Society. His investments and philanthropy helped fuel both the city’s economic growth and its cultural identity as the “Whaling City.”
Charles Waln Morgan’s legacy endures not only in the vessel that bears his name, but also in the maritime heritage of New Bedford, where faith, industry, and the sea converged to shape a global port.