Rory Morton

Rory Morton is a Corinthian lawyer and politician. He served as Senior Minister of Corinth from 2175-2190, the first Senior Minister to serve under two Presidents, Thomas Darkly and Benjamin Kingsbury.

Early life
Morton was born Rory Cotter in 2124 in Newport, Okenland Province. His father, John Cotter, was a traveling musician and his mother Elaine Erlec, was a seamstress. Morton's father left the family when he was still a baby and Morton has no memory of his father. Morton's mother was rather uneducated and the two lived in relative poverty for most of his early childhood.

In 2131, when he was seven-years old, his mother married Claude Morton who adopted Rory as his own son. The three of them relocated to Crawdan in Corinthian Eria where Claude took a job working in the lumberyards while Elaine continued work as a tailor. In 2132, Claude and Elaine had a boy, Marcus and in 2135, they had a girl, Ellen. Elaine died in childbirth giving birth to Ellen and Claude raised Rory, Marcus, and Ellen by himself. He never remarried.

After graduating from high school in 2142, Morton took a job with his father at the lumberyard to help support Marcus and Ellen. In 2148, when Marcus was approaching his eighteenth birthday, Rory told his father his intention to apply for college. Claude was hesitant at first but decided that since Marcus was graduating high school it would be financially possible for the family but explained to his son that he would have to work his way through school. Rory agreed.

Education
Rory's academic record was weak and he was initially unable to find a school who would accept him. However, in 2149, at the age of twenty-five, Rory was accepted to Sampander Provincial University in Ampana, Sampander. Claude gave Rory enough money for a semester of classes and for his initial rent and Rory traveled to Ampana for school. Working his way through college, Rory graduated in six years, graduating with a Bachelor in Business Administration in 2155. Despite weak academic performance in high school, Morton performed well in college and won a scholarship to study law at New Corinth Provincial University. With his family's blessing, he traveled to New Corinth to begin his law studies.

Morton enrolled at NCPU in 2155, however, he scored incredibly poorly and was put on academic probation. He withdrew from the school disheartened and took on odd jobs in New Corinth and back in Crawdan. He stayed with his father during this time, working at the lumberyard again. At this point, Marcus had taken a job with the rail company and had married while Ellen was attending college at the University of Okenland. Claude encouraged Rory to apply again. Having foregone his scholarship to NCPU, Morton reapplied and was accepted to the University of Corinth, Citadel, enrolling in the law program in 2157.

Morton performed averagely, but well enough and graduated with a Juris Doctor in 2160.

Early career
Due to his average grades, Morton initially had trouble finding a law job. In 2160, Morton attempted to open a law office in Corinth, which failed. In 2161, he traveled back to Corinthian Eria to open up a law firm in Crawdan, but was still unseasoned even for the relatively small legal market. His brother Marcus had recently relocated to Forest Village, Eria for the Greater Eria Rail Company and encouraged Rory to relocate to the village for his law practice.

In Forest Village, he met Richard Marx, another attorney, and the two opened a law practice together Marx & Morton in 2162. The two initially worked well together until Marx abruptly left the firm after only one year to assume the position of Mayor of Forest Village after the current Mayor's death. Morton was able to manage the now solo practice, though he never forgave Marx for the abandonment. He eventually formed a new partnership with Alfred Albanese and David Ringold, called Albanese, Morton & Ringold.

Political career
In 2164, Marx stood for election as Mayor. Morton, as Marx's rival, was approached by the Development Party to challenge Marx for the office. Morton had long been a member of the People's Party like his father, but at the chance to spite Marx, switched his party and ran for the Mayorship. Morton won the election in 2164. He served as mayor from 2164-2166. His tenure was uneventful and in 2166, he lost his reelection to Marx.

Morton decided to leave politics until 2168 when he was approached by the Development Party again. Morton ran against Marx in 2168 and won, becoming Mayor again. During the gap between his mayorships, Claude Morton passed away in 2166.

in 2170, Morton considered standing for reelection for Mayor, however, the Development Party leaders suggested that he stand for election to Parliament. The proposition surprised Morton, however, he accepted and stood for election in 2170. He was elected to Parliament for Eria as a member of the Development Party, serving in Parliament for five years.

Senior Minister of Corinth
In 2175, President Timothy Girodon decided to stand for reelection as President as a member of the new Justice Party. The Development Party was in disarray to select a challenger, with most of the Party split between New Corinth MP Bert Gilder, Corinth MP Evaline Rannington, and New Corinth Governor John Chance. Rannington, not seeing a chance at victory, communicated with Rory Morton and Sampander Governor Thomas Darkly, as a potential candidate to challenge the rather problematic Gilder and Chance. Morton chose to support Darkly's campaign and in 2175, Darkly won the Development Party nomination and the Presidency.

Morton served as Senior Minister for Darkly from 2175-2185. After the next election, he served as Senior Minister for the new President, the former High Court Judge Benjamin Kingsbury. However, with the election of Penelope Tate in 2190, Morton moved into Opposition serving as Leader of the Opposition from 2190-2196.

Later career
In 2196, Morton resigned from Parliament and was offered the Presidency of Crawdan Memorial University. He accepted the office and served for four years. He left CMU in 2200, retiring to Forest Village. He lived in Forest Village for five years until he died in 2205, at the age of 81.

Personal life
Morton never married. He allowed the law firm of Albanese, Morton & Ringold to maintain his name after he left the firm. Despite their difficult relationship, Richard Marx took steps to establishing a historical site for Morton in Forest Village.