Marine art of Ian L. Morgan
Description
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- Notes
- IAN LESLIE MORGAN
1933 - 2021
Ian Leslie Morgan was born in Etobicoke, Ontario July 28,1933, the eldest son of Merle and Jack Morgan. At an early age, like many other children, he was interested in building things and drawing things. He attended Lambton Kingsway elementary school followed by Etobicoke Collegiate where his skill as an artist was recognized and encouraged. Courses at the Ontario College of Art followed as Ian developed his drawing and design skills earning him a reputation for precise, detailed and accurate work.
He designed a summer cottage for the Morgan family in Tiny Township on the Georgian Bay shoreline near Midland. He was employed for a time at C&C Yachts in Niagara-on-the-Lake where he acquired important hands-on experience in the use of plastics and fibreglass in vessel construction. Returning to Toronto he accepted a position as instructor in Industrial Design at Ryerson University.
In 1965, while off for the summer from Ryerson, he began his long association with maritime heritage projects when he was contracted by Huronia Historical Parks to research, design, produce and install museum exhibits at the Nancy Island site in Wasaga Beach. In 1970, while at Nancy Island he built a 30' Admiralty Batteau as a live demo, interacting with visitors while dressed in period costume and using contemporary hand tools.
With the development of the Historic Naval and Military Establishments at Penetanguishene Ian was contracted to design the interior layout of the Naval Storehouse. He sourced everything from barrels and bales of blankets to rope and blocks, all of which gave the storehouse a unique naval ambiance. During this time he was also active in designing and producing maritime-themed exhibits for a number of institutions in the Great Lakes region. His ability to research and execute museum quality models and dioramas was well known and highly praised among curators and museum professionals.
He began a series of limited edition, maritime history prints in 1972 which he marketed under the name of Ships and Small Craft of Canada. The first prints featured handsome side profile drawings of Great Lakes schooners and steamships include the paddlewheel steamer WAUBUNO, the steam propeller ASIA and the schooner NEW DOMINION. Morgan's renderings of British Navy - War of 1812 sailing ships HMS ST. LAWRENCE and HMCS PRINCE REGENT, revealed his artistry at its best. Museum professionals began referring to him as an Historical Naval Architect, a descriptor which became his unofficial title wherever his skills were engaged. In 1974 his print output was expanded to include the legendary Nova Scotia schooner BLUENOSE and several ships of the Royal Canadian Navy including HMCS HAIDA, HMCS MARGAREE, HMCS ST. THOMAS and HMCS OAKVILLE to name a few.
In the spring of 1983 he was once again under contract to Huronia Historical Parks, this time produce a set of drawings for the proposed HMSchooner BEE, a replica of an 1812 era supply vessel typical of those based at Penetanguishene. Ian had earlier persuaded them to build the BEE’s hull of fibreglass but with traditional wood bulwarks, decks and masts. In very short order, Morgan produced historically accurate drawings for all construction details and provided estimates for all materials required to complete the project. This work was perhaps his most painstaking and challenging project to date and despite seeing it through to its successful completion, Morgan had a falling out with the management of Huronia Historical Parks. He was never able to settle his invoices for services rendered and consequently was pushed to the brink of insolvency.
As a result, Morgan had to close his fabrication shop in Mississauga and also liquidated his cottage at Orr Lake. His pleadings for settlement with provincial officials and politicians fell on deaf ears and Morgan was publicly ostracized and subsequently banned from the Historic Naval and Military Establishments: the very site where he had invested so much of his passion and efforts in support of maritime heritage.
Ian moved to Midland, Ontario where he rented a small, modest space to serve as his living quarters and workspace. Despite this unfortunate turn of events, he remained active in the field of maritime research and subsequently landed a contract to draw the wrecks of American War of 1812 schooners USS HAMILTON and USS SCOURGE discovered at the bottom of Lake Ontario near St. Catharines. His work in rendering several detailed drawings of the two ships enlarged his reputation not only in Canada but also with maritime history professionals in the United States.
In 1992 he convinced the Canadian Hydrographic Association to build a replica of Joseph Bouchette's hydrographic survey launch used to chart the harbour at York in 1792. He was active as a naval re-enactor, serving with the Royal George Brigade on numerous voyages and at events throughout the Great Lakes, to Lake Champlain and along the Atlantic seaboard.
Ian Morgan’s expertise was in great demand by divers and underwater archeologists where his keen observations and unsurpassed knowledge helped to identify shipwrecks and harvest details of their design, construction and demise often overlooked by the casual observer. He embraced the friendship and camaraderie of several members of the Save Ontario Shipwrecks organization and almost single-handedly, raised the standard of their work in exploring, locating and documenting Ontario shipwrecks.
Late in his career, he maintained a passion and enthusiasm that was both inspiring and contagious. In 2016 he dove on the submerged hull of the steamer WAUBUNO at Wreck Island in Georgian Bay gleening details of her construction which he brought forward on a new and revised drawing of the ill-fated ship. His last commission in 2017 saw him produce a drawing of the 1874 Welland Canal freight/passenger steamer CITY OF ST. CATHARINES now in a private collection in Niagara.
After a terminal medical diagnosis, Ian entered Tomkins House Hospice near Midland, where he passed away a few months later on February 18, 2021.
A Legacy Fund in his name, honouring his years of service and commitment to the field of maritime history, is administered by the Huronia Museum.
- Subject(s)
- Language of Item
- English
- Contact
- Maritime History of the Great LakesEmail:walter@maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
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