James Porter (Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge)
James Porter (2 October 1827, Belfast – 2 October 1900, Cambridge)[1] was a British academic[2] in the second half of the 19th century.[3]
Porter was born on 2 October 1827 in Belfast, the son of Rev. James Porter, Presbyterian minister, Rector of Drumlee, Castlewellan, County Down.[4] Porter's siblings were:
- William Archer Porter, a lawyer and educationist who served as the principal of Government Arts College, Kumbakonam and tutor and secretary to the Maharaja of Mysore;
- Jane Bailie Porter, who married Alexander Crum Brown, the Scottish organic chemist;
- Margaret Archer Porter, who married Peter Tait, the physicist.
Porter graduated M.A. from the University of Glasgow in 1847, and continued to Peterhouse, Cambridge (admitted 8 July 1847, graduated B.A. as 9th wrangler 1851, M.A. 1854, D.D. 1881).[4]
Porter taught mathematics at Liverpool College[5] 1851–55, and was ordained deacon in 1853 and priest in 1856.[4]
He was to spend the rest of his career at Peterhouse. He was appointed Fellow in 1853; Dean in 1856; Bursar in 1861; Assistant Tutor in 1863; Tutor 1866–76; and Master 1876–1900. He also served as Senior proctor in 1868–69 and 1876–77; Vicar of Cherry Hinton 1880–82;[4] and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge 1881–84.[6]
"He was endowed with a great activity both mental and physical, which found expression on the one hand in a keen participation in athletic sports, and on the other in whole-hearted efforts to promote the highest interests of the University."[7] In Dr T. A. Walker's History of Peterhouse (1906) the Rev. James Porter is described as a “man of notable business qualifications and of a rare generosity of spirit.”[8]
References
- The Master Of Peterhouse The Times (London, England), Wednesday, Oct 03, 1900; pg. 4; Issue 36263
- National Archives
- "Porter, James". Who's Who. ukwhoswho.com. 1897–1916 (1 December 2007 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 1 August 2018. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
- "Porter, James (PRTR847J)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
- Look & Learn
- University web-site
- Knott, Cargill Gilston (1911). Life and Scientific Work of Peter Guthrie Tait. Cambridge University Press. p. 14.
- Walker, Thomas Alfred (1906). Peterhouse. London: Hutchinson & Co. p. 187.
Academic offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Henry Wilkinson Cookson |
Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge 1876–1900 |
Succeeded by Adolphus Ward |
Preceded by Edward Perowne |
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge 1881–1884 |
Succeeded by Norman Macleod Ferrers |