A specialist in the politics of the early American republic, Morton Borden was professor of history at the University of California, Santa Barbara. After service in the United States Army Air Force, he earned a BS from the City College of New York in 1948, a MA from New York University in 1949, and a Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1953. Prior to taking his position at UCSB, Borden taught at City College of New York, Ohio State University, the University Montana, and University Madrid in Spain.