Rattler Morgan: Groton Whaling Captain

Carol W. Kimball

Ebenezer, Rattler, Morgan: Groton maritime captain
Mounment Street Italianate villa
whaling to sealing
Taylor's book, Life on a Whaler

Kim11-002

Scrapbook

8: Communication Artifact

Documentary Artifact

The Day

New London, CT

10/09/2006

Carol W. Kimball

Capt. Ebenezer, Rattler, Morgan went to sea at the age of 10. He was born in Groton July 22, 1817 and would grow to be a very successful maritime captain. According to Nathaniel W. Taylor who wrote, Life on a Whaler, Rattler brought his 23 year old wife, Ann, on his third voyage as commander of the whale ship Julius Caesar, while their two year old son stayed home with grandparents. He was the first to convert a whaler, the Pioneer, into a steamship. He was the first to raise the American flag on Alaskan soil. He was the first to leave whaling and turn to sealing. He built several homes in Groton, lived on Monument Street in his Italianate villa and retired after forming the Alaska Commercial Co. with the officers of Williams & Haven as stockholders. Wealth poured into New London. He donated to charity and presented Bibles to the crews of outgoing vessels. Wealthy and successful, he died Aug. 11, 1890 at the age of 73.

Morgan, Ebenezer, Rattler, (Capt.)
Althuis, Tom
St oddard, E.V.
Taylor, Nathaniel W.
Morgan, Ann
Seward (Secretary)

Groton Whaling Captain
whaling to sealing
Alaska
whale ship Julius Caesar
sailing bark Pioneer
Italianate villa on Monument Street
bark Peru
Alaska Commercial Co.
Williams & Haven
philanthropy
Bibles
schooner Francis Allyn
steamer Niantic