James Madison Porter
Encyclopedia
James Madison Porter a Pennsylvania
n, was the 18th United States Secretary of War
and a founder of Lafayette College
.
Porter was born near Norristown, Pennsylvania
on January 6, 1793. As a child he was home schooled, but he later attended Norristown Academy
. In 1809 he had begun to study law in an office in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
and later join his brother, Judge Robert Porter, to study in Reading, Pennsylvania
. He moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
to become a clerk in the prothonotary's office in 1812. He helped raise and manage a volunteer militia company to garrison at Fort Mifflin
and advanced to the rank of colonel. In 1813 he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law. He was appointed attorney general for Northampton County, Pennsylvania
and married his wife Eliza Michler (1803-1866) in 1821. Porter was instrumental in the founding of Lafayette College
and was president of its board of trustees from 1826 to 1852 and professor of jurisprudence and political economy 1837 to 1852. In 1839 he was appointed to the vacancy as president judge of the twelfth judicial district. In 1843 President
John Tyler
appointed him to be Secretary of War
serving for about eleven months. The years that followed after his time as Secretary of War, Porter was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
in 1849, served as chairman of the judiciary committee and served as president judge of the twenty-second judicial district from 1853 to 1855. Porter was president of two railroad companies for some time, the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad Company from 1847 to 1856 as well as the Belvidere Delaware Railroad
.
He died in Easton, Pennsylvania
on November 11, 1862. He is buried with his wife, Eliza, who died on March 2, 1866, in Easton Cemetery
in Easton, Pennsylvania
.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
n, was the 18th United States Secretary of War
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
and a founder of Lafayette College
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
.
Porter was born near Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. The population was 34,324 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
on January 6, 1793. As a child he was home schooled, but he later attended Norristown Academy
Norristown Academy
Norristown Academy was a public academy established in 1804 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Many prominent people have been educated there, including the sons of Major General Winfield Scott Hancock, Governor David Rittenhouse Porter, James Madison Porter, and Samuel Medary....
. In 1809 he had begun to study law in an office in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
and later join his brother, Judge Robert Porter, to study in Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
. He moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
to become a clerk in the prothonotary's office in 1812. He helped raise and manage a volunteer militia company to garrison at Fort Mifflin
Fort Mifflin
Fort Mifflin, originally called Fort Island Battery and also known as Mud Island Fort, was commissioned in 1771 and sits on Mud Island on the Delaware River below Philadelphia, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia International Airport...
and advanced to the rank of colonel. In 1813 he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law. He was appointed attorney general for Northampton County, Pennsylvania
Northampton County, Pennsylvania
As of the 2010 census, the county was 86.3% White, 5.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.2% were two or more races, and 3.8% were some other race. 10.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.As of the census of...
and married his wife Eliza Michler (1803-1866) in 1821. Porter was instrumental in the founding of Lafayette College
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
and was president of its board of trustees from 1826 to 1852 and professor of jurisprudence and political economy 1837 to 1852. In 1839 he was appointed to the vacancy as president judge of the twelfth judicial district. In 1843 President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
John Tyler
John Tyler
John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor...
appointed him to be Secretary of War
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
serving for about eleven months. The years that followed after his time as Secretary of War, Porter was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
in 1849, served as chairman of the judiciary committee and served as president judge of the twenty-second judicial district from 1853 to 1855. Porter was president of two railroad companies for some time, the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad Company from 1847 to 1856 as well as the Belvidere Delaware Railroad
Belvidere Delaware Railroad
The Belvidere Delaware Railroad, frequently shortened to the "Bel Del", was a railroad running along the eastern shore of the Delaware River from Trenton, New Jersey north via Phillipsburg, New Jersey to Belvidere, New Jersey...
.
He died in Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
on November 11, 1862. He is buried with his wife, Eliza, who died on March 2, 1866, in Easton Cemetery
Easton Cemetery
Easton Cemetery is a historic cemetery and burial site of many notable individuals, located in Easton, Pennsylvania. The cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.-Notable burials:*Jefferson Davis Brodhead...
in Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
.
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