James F. (James Ferdinand) Morton

James Ferdinand Morton Jr. (1870–1941) was an American writer, lecturer, and activist whose work ranged across politics, religion, and social questions. He is best known for anarchist and freethought writing in the early 20th century, especially on issues such as taxation, racism, and women's rights, and he also edited reform-minded periodicals.

A Harvard graduate, Morton built a public reputation as a speaker and pamphleteer. Later in life, his interests broadened in notable ways: he became associated with the Baháʼí Faith, worked as a museum curator, and was active in Esperanto circles. That unusual mix of causes gives his career a distinctive breadth.

For readers today, Morton is an interesting figure not just because of any single book, but because he represents a world of energetic debate and self-education. His writing tends to be direct, engaged, and reformist, shaped by a lifelong habit of questioning institutions and arguing for change.