Morton was born in Shoreham, Addison County, Vermont. He was a clerk in a general store in Enfield, Massachusetts, taught school in Boscawen, New Hampshire, engaged in mercantile pursuits in Hanover, New Hampshire, moved to Boston, entered the dry-goods business in New York City and engaged in banking there. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1876 to the 45th Congress. He was appointed by President Rutherford B. Hayes as honorary commissioner to the Paris Exhibition of 1878.

Morton was elected as a Republican to the 46th and 47th Congresses, serving from March 4, 1879, until his resignation, effective March 21, 1881. Presidential candidate James Garfield asked him to be his vice presidential candidate in 1880, but Morton rejected the offer. He asked to be Minister to Britain or France instead. He was United States Minister to France from 1881 to 1885, and elected Vice President of the United States on the Republican ticket with Benjamin Harrison, serving from March 4, 1889 to March 3, 1893.

Levi Morton was Governor of New York from 1895 to 1897. Following his public career, he became a real estate investor. He died in Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, New York, on his 96th birthday. He is interred in the Rhinebeck Cemetery.

Preceded by: John A. Logan Republican Party Vice Presidential candidate 1888 (won) Succeeded by: Whitelaw Reid Preceded by: Thomas A. Hendricks Vice President of the United States March 4, 1889-March 3, 1893 Succeeded by: Adlai E. Stevenson Preceded by: Roswell P. Flower Governor of New York 1895-1897 Succeeded by: Frank S. Black