# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Morton, Thomas (1781-1832)

​MORTON, THOMAS (1781–1832), inventor of the 'patent slip' for docking vessels, was the son of Hugh Morton, wright and builder, of Leith, where he was born 8 Oct. 1781. In early life Morton seems to have been engaged in his father's business at Leith. In 1819 he patented his great invention (No. 4352), the object of which was to provide a cheap substitute for a dry dock in places where such a dock is inexpedient or impracticable. It consists of an inclined railway with three lines of rail running into the deep water of the harbour or tideway. A strongly built carriage, supported by a number of small wheels, travels upon 'the railway, and is let down into the water by means of a chain in connection with a capstan or a small winding engine. The ship to be hauled up is then floated over the submerged carriage so that the keel is exactly over the centre of the carriage, the position of which is indicated by rods projecting above the surface of the water. The vessel is then towed until the stem grounds on the front end of the carriage, when the hauling gear is set to work. As the carriage is drawn up the inclined way the vessel gradually settles down upon it, and in this way vessels of very large tonnage may be readily hauled up out of the water. The vessel is supported in an upright position by a system of chocks mounted on transverse slides, which are drawn under the bilge as the vessel leaves the water. This was a very important part of the invention, as the idea of drawing ships out of the water up an inclined plane was not new. Such a method was in use in the royal dockyard at Brest in the early part of the eighteenth century (Machines approuvées par l'Académie des Sciences, ii. 55, 57). Morton started the manufacture of the patent slip, and eventually acquired a large business. The first slip was built at Bo'ness about 1822; but the inventor was obliged to do the work partly at his own expense, in order to remove the prejudice against the new invention. It was afterwards adopted at Irvine, Whitehaven, and Dumbarton. The patent was infringed by one Barclay, who erected a slip on the same principle at Stobcross, and Morton brought an action for infringement, which was tried at Edinburgh 15 March 1824, when evidence was given on Morton's behalf by John Farey, the Rev. W. Scoresby, Captain Basil Hall, and other eminent men. Judgment was given in Morton's favour. In 1832 a bill was brought into the House of Commons for an extension of the patent. The select committee to which the bill was referred reported against it, but expressed a hope' that some other means may be adopted ​to obtain for Mr. Morton a more adequate pecuniary recompense for the great benefit his invention has conferred upon the public, and the shipping interest in particular, than he appears to have derived from his patent.' It was proved by evidence given before the committee that the operation of placing a particular ship in a position to be repaired, which formerly cost 170l., could be effected by Morton's slip for 3l. In 1832 forty slips were in operation, and at the present time one is to be found in nearly every important harbour.
Morton died 24 Dec. 1832, and was buried in South Leith parish church. After his death the business was carried on by Messrs. S. & H. Morton, Leith, and the firm is still in existence.
[Report of the Trial, Morton v. Barclay, Edinburgh, 1824; Eeport of the Committee of the House of Commons on the Bill for prolonging Morton's patent, 1832; Edinburgh Encyclopædia, xviii. 255; Weale's Quarterly Papers on Engineering, iv. 9; Bramwell's Paper on Docks in Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, xxv. 315.]
R. B. P.