Morton Freeman Plant

Morton Freeman Plant (August 18, 1852, Branford, Connecticut - November 4, 1918, New York City) was a United States financier.

Morton Freeman Plant was the son of Henry Bradley and Ellen Elizabeth (Blackstone) Plant. His father was a pioneer railroad builder in the South. He received his early education at Russell's Military School, New Haven, Connecticut, and at the age of 16 entered the employ of the Southern Express, which at that time was owned by his father. Later, he was chairman of the express company's board of directors.

In 1884, he became identified with his father's railroad lines in the South, and was vice president of what was known as the Plant System. He remained vice president until May 13, 1902, when the Plant System was consolidated with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. He continued to serve as director of the latter company until his death.

He was also owner of the Plant steamship lines founded by his father. He was also vice-president and director of the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railroad Co.; chairman of the board of directors of the Southern Express Co.; trustee of the Connecticut Trust & Safe Deposit Co. of Hartford; vice president and director of the Peninsular & Occidental Steamship Co.; director of the Interborough Rapid Transit Co. of New York, the Lincoln Trust Co., the Windsor Trust Co., the Bowling Green Trust Co. of New York, the Casualty Company of America, and the National Bank of Commerce of New London, Connecticut. Beside these numerous interests, Plant also owned the Shore Line Electric Railway - at the time one of the largest single trolley systems in the United States - and a number of hotels and summer resorts in various parts of the Union, among them the “Griswold” at New London, Connecticut, and the “Belleview” in Florida.

He did much for the development of New London, building roads, churches, office buildings, and hotels, and extending trolley lines. His country seat, Branford House at Eastern Point, Groton, Connecticut, was one of the most perfectly equipped farms in the United States.

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