Charles Morgan (1795 – 1878) was an American shipping and railroad magnate, playing a key role in the development of transportation and commerce in the Southern United States. His investments in steamships and railroads helped shape trade routes along the Gulf of Mexico.
Born in Connecticut, he moved to New York City at 14, working in retail before investing in maritime shipping. By the 1830s, he was managing packet services to Jamaica, South Carolina, New Orleans, and Texas. His shift to steamships allowed him to dominate trade between New Orleans and Galveston.
During the Mexican-American War, his ships transported troops and supplies, securing lucrative government contracts. The California Gold Rush further expanded his fleet, leading to a rivalry with Cornelius Vanderbilt over Panama transit routes. Though he lost control of Accessory Transit Company, he later acquired Vanderbilt’s Gulf packet fleet, solidifying his power.
Despite losing ships during the Civil War, he profited from Union Navy contracts. In 1869, he purchased the New Orleans, Opelousas, and Great Western Railroad, renaming it Morgan’s Louisiana and Texas Railroad. He died in 1878, leaving behind a lasting legacy in American transportation history.