Porter (DAVID DIXON an American naval)
DAVID DIXON, an American naval officer; born in Chester, Pa., June 8, 1813; son of Commodore David Porter. He entered the navy as midshipman in 1829, was employed in 1836 to 1841 in the survey of the coast of the United States; in 1841 appointed as lieutenant to the frigate "Congress." In 1845 was transferred to the National Observatory at Washington, and during the Mexican War to the naval rendezvous at New Orleans; again to the coast survey, and from 1849 to 1853 engaged in command of the California mail steamers. At the commencement of the Civil War he was appointed commander of the steam sloop-of-war, "Powhatan"; distinguishing himself in the capture of New Orleans, and commanded the gunboat and mortar flotilla which co-operated with the squadron of Admiral Farragut in the first attack on Vicksburg. In the fall of 1862 he was placed in command of all the naval forces on the W. rivers above New Orleans, with the rank of rear-admiral. After the war he was appointed superintendent of the United States Naval Academy, Annapo-ing most of the rest of the war. lis. He was made vice-admiral in 1866, 3.75 and in 1870 became admiral. He died in Washington, D. C., Feb. 13, 1891.
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Porter (FITZ-JOHN an American military)
FITZ-JOHN, an American military officer; born in Portsmouth, N. H., June 13, 1822; was graduated at the Academy in 1845; United States Military served in the Mexican War, and made brevet captain and major for gallantry at Molino del Rey and Chapultepec. In 1861 was appointed colonel of the 15th U. S. Infantry, displaying great gallantry at Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill, Antietam, and Mechanicsville. For an alleged disobedience at the second battle of Bull Run, Aug. 29, 1862, Porter was court-martialed, and on Jan. 21, 1863, was cashiered. In 1878 a trial was granted, and the court recommended that the former sentence be reversed, and that he be restored to his former rank in the army, but no decisive action was taken In 1882 President Arthur remitted so much of the penalty as prohibited him from holding office. New evidence came to light, General Grant affirming that Porter had been unjustly treated, and a bill was introduced in Congress providing for his reinstatement. In 1886 the bill passed both Houses, and became a law by the signature of the President. He died in Morristown, N. J., May 21, 1901.
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Porter, Jane
Jane (1776-1850), an English novelist. She was a native of Durham, a sister of Robert Ker Porter, a painter of historical scenes. Miss Porter is known chiefly as the author of the two tales, Thaddeus of Warsaw and Scottish Chiefs. Both are favorites with young readers. The former deals with the history of unfortunate Poland; the latter is devoted to thrilling incidents in the lives of Wallace and Bruce.
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Porter, Noah
Noah (1811-1892), an American college president. He was born at Farmingham, Connecticut, December 14, 1811, and died at New Haven , March 4, 1892. He was graduated at Yale in 1831, but remained to tutor and to study theology. He was pastor of the Congregational Church at New Milford, Connecticut, and later at Springfield, Massachusetts. In 1846 he was appointed Yale professor of moral philosophy and metaphysics. In 1871 he was chosen president of Yale, a position he held for fifteen years. As compared with that of Harvard during the same period, his administration was conservative. He stood closely by the classics. The endowment of Yale was increased, however, and new buildings were erected. A list of his more prominent writings includes a dozen titles. The best known are Books and Reading, a guide to the use or purchase of a library; and The Human Intellect. The latter has had a wide use as a college text. His name appeared also as the editor-in-chief of various editions of Webster's Unabridged.
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Portia
in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, an heiress in love with Bassanio. In that part of the plot which presents the old story of the three caskets, Portia's hand in marriage is to be the reward of him who chooses the right casket. Bassanio makes the right choice. Portia is especially celebrated for her defense of Antonio, the friend of Bassanio. Shylock demands the "pound of flesh" promised by Antonio in case he fails to pay the money he has borrowed. Portia, disguised as "a learned doctor of the law," so judges the case that Antonio is freed. See Merchant Of Venice
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Portici
a town of Italy; on the slope of Vesuvius, 5 miles S. E. of Naples. Its environs are delightful, and are dotted over with country houses. The royal palace built (1738) by Charles III. is now an agricultural college. There are a small fort, fishing, and sea bathing. Silkworms are reared and ribbons made.
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Portico
a covered walk, supported by columns, and usually vaulted; a piazza or arched walk; a porch before the entrance of a building fronted with columns. Porticoes are known as tetrastyle, hexastyle, octostyle, or decastyle, according as they have four, six, eight, or 10 columns in front. A prostyle portico is one projecting in front of the building; a portico in antis is one receding within the building.
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Portland Beds
in geology, a series of marine beds, 180 feet thick, of Upper Oölitic age, found chiefly in PORTLAND (q. v.), but also in Oxfordand Yorkshire. shire, Buckinghamshire, They constitute the foundation on which the fresh-water limestone of the Lower Purbeck reposes.
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Porto Alegre
capital of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Pop. (1918) 1,852,207. N. W. extremity of the Lagoa dos Patos, by means of which it communicates with the sea. It was founded in 1742. It contains a cathedral, an arsenal, military and normal schools, an episcopal seminary, and a German club. Most of the wholesale trade is in the hands of the Germans. There are manufactories of pianos, furniture, brandy, and beer. The chief exports are beef, salt pork, lard, hides, and flour. Pop. about 150,000. 21
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Porto Maggiore
a town of Italy, on an island in the Valli di Commacchio, midway between Ferrara and Ravenna, the chief occupations are cattlebreeding, fishing, and agriculture, the products comprising beet root, and grain. Pop. about 22,500.
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