Harry Hays Morgan Jr.

Early Life and Diplomatic Career

Morgan was born April 25, 1898 in Horgen, Switzerland, to Henry Hays Morgan, Sr. (1860–1933), an American diplomat, who served as U.S. consul general at Buenos Aires, Argentina; Berlin, Germany; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Havana, Cuba; and Brussels, Belgium. and his Peruvian born wife, Laura Delphine Kilpatrick (1877–1956). Morgan's father was the son of Louisiana planters, his mother was the daughter of U.S. Civil War General and diplomat Hugh Judson Kilpatrick. Morgan was raised primarily in Europe, one of four children including sisters Consuelo Morgan Thaw, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt and Thelma Furness, Viscountess Furness and two half-sisters from his father's first marriage who remained in the United States.

He followed in his follows footsteps entering the diplomatic core as U.S. Vice Consul at Glasgow, Scotland and later Brussels, Belgium and Vienna, Austria.

Film Career

Morgan began a foray into acting in 1943, first appearing in an uncredited role in Lets Face It. Morgan would go on to appear in 27 films between 1943 and 1948 including Ivy, The Snake Pit and Uncertain Glory.

Personal Life

Morgan married three times over the course of his life.

First in 1923 in New York to Ivor Elizabeth O'Connor (1901–1937), the Parisian born daughter of Dallas Banking magnate James C. O'Connor and Ivor Branch Tate, a sister of former Dallas mayor J. Waddy Tate and descendants of William Thornton. O'Connor was formerly married to Rembert D. Trezevant. O'Connor and Morgan divorced at Paris in 1927. Despite having divorced Morgan in 1927, she testified in 1936 on behalf of her former sister-in-law, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt during the custody trial of Gloria Vanderbilt. O'Connor died in Antibes, France in 1937 at age 36. O'Connor left a large estate which included stock, cash and real estate primarily in Dallas where her land holdings included the property which eventually became Neiman Marcus and an interest in the The First National Bank of Dallas. Much of her property was divested into 'Ivor O'Connor Morgan Trust' which provides benefit to children medicine at Dallas area hospitals and for the care of dogs.

Second in 1932 in Baltimore to Edith Churchill Gordon (1900–1948), the Philadelphia born daughter of James Lindsay Gordon, a Virginia born prominent New York attorney and Emily Adele Schlichter. Gordon's maternal grandfather was Isaac Schlichter, President of Schlichter Jute Cordage Company and Frankford Hospital, her paternal great grandfather was William F. Gordon a prominent nineteenth century Virginian politician. Gordon was previously married to Paul Mitchell Arnold. Gordon and Morgan had one child together, Thelma Gloria Consuelo Morgan (born December 17, 1933 at Paris, France). She died at age 48 in 1948 in Los Angeles after a two year illness.

Third to Sybil Robertina Willys-Boyce (1906–1994), the London born daughter of Marguerite Boyce and granddaughter of John Jewett Boyce, a San Francisco lawyer, banker and politician. Boyce died 1994 in Bern, Switzerland.

Morgan retired to Barcelona, Spain, where he died July 8, 1983.