Morgan belonged to a junior branch of a leading Monmouthshire family. The death of his cousin William Morgan I in 1569 without legitimate children led eventually to his inheriting Tredegar, long the seat of the senior line of the family. Even before his father’s death Morgan was active as a local magistrate, and as holder of Machen his position in the county was far from negligible. But his inheritance of Tredegar gave him recognized county standing. With the Herberts and the Somersets, his kinsmen, he could wield great influence not only in local government, but in the return of Members of Parliament. Thus he was able to secure his own election for the county in 1588. His parliamentary career was uneventful: he was appointed to one committee (12 Feb. 1589) concerning the privilege of Roger Puleston II, Member for Flintshire, and as first knight for the shire he would have been able to attend the subsidy committee on 11 Feb. He did not sit again himself, but his influence may have been helpful in securing the election of Henry Morgan II in 1601.3Clark, 311; G. B. Morgan, Mems. Morgan Fam. i. 112-21; ii. 65-7; D’Ewes, 431, 432.
Apart from his one appearance in Parliament, Morgan appears to have been occupied exclusively in local government, serving as a justice of the peace and deputy lieutenant until his death in 1603, when he was succeeded by his son Sir William Morgan.4APC, xxxi. 403; xxxii. 280; Herbert Corresp. 60-1.