John Adams Morgan, Investment Banker, Olympic Gold Medalist, Dies at 94

John Adams Morgan, a member of the storied American banking family and a man of distinguished achievements in both finance and sports, died peacefully of natural causes on January 23. 

Morgan was born on September 17, 1930, in Oyster Bay, New York, to Henry Sturgis Morgan, a founding partner of Morgan Stanley, and Catherine Lovering Adams Morgan. He was a great-grandson of financier J.P. Morgan and a grandson of J.P. Morgan Jr. He was also a direct descendant of U.S. presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams.

Educated at Groton School and Yale University, Morgan served in the U.S. Air Force before embarking on a career in banking. He started at Morgan Stanley but soon moved to Dominick & Dominick and in 1967 to Smith Barney, where he became vice chairman in 1980. In 1982 he co founded Morgan Lewis Githens & Ahn, one of the first investment banking boutiques, which in 2001 transitioned to Morgan Joseph LLC, an investment banking firm Morgan founded with Fred Joseph formerly of Drexel Burnham Lambert, where Morgan remained as founding Chairman until his retirement in 2016. Mr. Morgan also served as non executive chairman of Morgan Grenfell Inc., a Morgan family legacy firm, founded as the parent firm in London by J.P. Morgan’s father Junius Spencer Morgan.

Sharing his financial expertise across industries, Morgan held directorships at major corporations including FlightSafety International, Imperial Chemical Industries, (ICI) , ICI Canada,  Allied digital technologies, Trimas, Masco tech, Long Point Capital, Masco Corporation, McDermott International, Olin Corporation,  Scoville Manufacturing. And Schroeder’s plus many more.

A skilled sailor, Morgan won an Olympic gold medal on the Classic Six Metres “Llanoria” at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.  He was a life member of the New York Yacht Club. 

In addition to his professional and athletic achievements, Morgan was an avid supporter of the arts. He was until his death a board director of the finance committee and board of directors of the Morgan Library & Museum in New York, continuing his family's cultural legacy. He also served as trustee emeritus of the Provident Loan Society.

 A loving, devoted husband and father, Mr Morgan is survived by his wife, Connie; and their daughter Caroline E Philipson and his stepdaughter Christina A Philipson and his children from three previous marriages John Adams Morgan Jr.,  and Chauncey Goss Morgan, and Quincy Adams Morgan.  He is also survived by his brother, Charles F.rancis Morgan. 98 And six grandchildren. 

A memorial service will be held at 11am on March 24th at the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, on 5th Avenue and 90th streets in New York City. 

  In leu of flowers, donations may be made to The Morgan Library and Museum in his memory. 

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