Justin Morgan, 1792–1821

Encyclopedia: American horse, the foundation sire of the Justin Morgan breed of horses. Originally called “Figure,” the stallion was renamed for his first owner, Justin Morgan (1747–97), after both owner and horse were dead. The horse—small, weighing about 800 lb (363 kg), of tremendous endurance, and with a delicate head, heavy shoulders, and a short neck—was bought and sold many times. The Morgan breed (see Morgan horse) preceded the Hambletonian strain as the favored type of trotting horses in America.