Military officer; born in
Salisbury, Conn., Aug. 4, 1773; studied law, and began practice at
Canandaigua, N. Y., in 1795; was a member of Congress from 1809 to 1813, and again in 1815-16.
He settled at
Black Rock, near
Buffalo, where he and his brothers made large purchases of land along the
Niagara River.
A leader of volunteers on the
Niagara frontier, he became distinguished for his skill and bravery, and received the thanks of Congress and a gold medal.
President Madison offered him the position
of commander-in-chief of the army in 1815, which he declined.
He was secretary of
state of New York (1815-16), and was
Secretary of War, under
President John Quincy Adams, in 1828.
General Porter was one of the early projectors of the
Erie Canal, and one of the first board of commissioners.
He died at
Niagara Falls, March 20, 1844.
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