James Madison Porter

James Madison Porter (January 6, 1793 November 11, 1862) served as the 18th United States Secretary of War and a founder of Lafayette College.

James Porter
18th United States Secretary of War
In office
March 8, 1843  January 30, 1844
PresidentJohn Tyler
Preceded byJohn Spencer
Succeeded byWilliam Wilkins
Personal details
Born(1793-01-06)January 6, 1793
Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedNovember 11, 1862(1862-11-11) (aged 69)
Easton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseEliza Michler

Porter began his career studying law in 1809 and later became a clerk in the prothonotary's office in an effort to manage a volunteer militia company at Fort Mifflin. Porter was admitted to the bar in 1813 and later appointed to attorney general for Northampton County, Pennsylvania. He was a professor of jurisprudence and political economy at Lafayette College (1837-1852), a judge of the twelfth judicial district (1839), ad interim U.S. Secretary of War under President John Tyler (1843), and was elected as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1849.

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