Biography of John K. Porter
FROM OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
A DESCRIPTIVE AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
PREPARED AND PUBLISHED UNDER THE
AUSPICES OF THE SARATOGIAN
THE BOSTON HISTORY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 1899
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JOHN K. PORTER. HON. JOHN K. PORTER, son of Dr. Elijah Porter, was born at Waterford, this county, January 12, 1819. Dr. Elijah
Porter was a physician and removed from Vermont to Waterford early in this century. He was a son of Morris Porter,
an officer of the Continental army, who gained high distinction for his bravery at the battle of Bemis Heights.
John K. Porter was a student of exceptional ability and had during his early training the guidance of instructors
of rare ability. He entered Union College when but sixteen years of age and was graduated in 1837 with the highest
honors the institution could confer upon him. He read law, was admitted to the Supreme Court bar in 1840 and immediately
took rank with the leading lawyers of the county. In 1848 he removed to Albany and was engaged in some of the most
important litgations of the country. He was a brilliant orator and one of the ablest advocates before a jury this
State has ever produced. He won high professional honors in his successful defense of Horace Greeley vs. De Witt
C. Littlejohn for libel, and in many of the most prominent actions of his time, being at different times the opposing
or associate counsel of William M. Evarts, Charles O’Connor and other bright lights of the profession.
In 1864 be was appointed to complete the term of Hon. Henry R. Selden as a judge of the Court of Appeals and in
the fall of that year was elected to the full term, but resigned in 1868 to remove to New York city where he made
for himself a national reputation in many famous cases He was a man who combined the rare qualities of a jurist
of erudition and research, and an advocate of brilliant oratory and power.
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