POR'SON, Pacumw (1759-1808). A brilliant Greek scholar, born December 25, 1759, at East Ruston, Norfolk, England, where his father, a worsted weaver, was parish clerk. The curate of the parish, Mr. Hewett, impressed by the boy's rare abilities, had him educated along with his own sons. Parson afterwards found a patron in Mr. Norris, the founder of the Yorrisian pro fesso•ship at Cambridge, who sent him to Eton in 1774, where he remained about four years, without, however, distinguishing himself remark ably. Another patron, Sir George Baker. sent him, in 177S, to Trinity College, Cambridge, of which he was elected a scholar in 1780. In 1781 he won the Craven scholarship and the first chan cellor's medal. In 1782 he was chosen a fellow of Trinity. He now began to give indications of his subtlety and taste in the difficult verbal criti cism of the Greek dramatists. For four years he contributed to Muty's Review—his first critique being on Schutz's .Esehylus, and his finest on Brunek's Aristophanes. He also opened a cor respondence with Professor Ruhnken. In 1787 he contributed to the Gentleman's Magazine three sarcastic letters on Hawkins's Life of Johnson. For the same periodical he also wrote his far more famous and trenchant Letters to Travis on the Three Wilmsses The question con cerned the disputed text I. John v. 7, and was occasioned by a pretentious defense of the pas sage by Archdeacon Travis against the scornful attack of Gibbon. Porson naturally incurred great odium on account of the side he took in this controversy. One old lady who had him in her will for a legacy of £300 cot it down to £30 when she heard that he had written a book against Christianity. Porson's fellowship being vacated by his r•efusal to take orders, his friends now procured for him an annuity of 1100. He was also appointed to the rcgius professorship of Greek in the University of Cam bridge. an office worth 140 a year. The only thing he ever did in connection with his Greek professorship was to deliver a Latin prclection on Euripides, written, it is said, in two days. In
1795 he edited the plays of .Eschylmi for the Foulis Press at Glasgow; and between 1797 and 1801 four of Euripides, the Hecuba, the Orestes, the Plurnissie, and the Medea. He also collated the Harleian manuscript of the Odyssey for the `Grenville' Homer. in 1806 lie was appointed librarian of the London institution with a salary of 1200, but neglected his duties. By this time Poison had weakened in mind and body. Ever since the loss of his fellowship he had lived mostly in London, occupying rooms at Essex Court in the Temple. There he would confine himself to work for days; and for years he had been at times a hard drinker. Ife died of apo plexy, September 25, 1808, and was buried in the chapel of Trinity College. Cambridge.
Porson was famed for his wit and learning, and. unfortunately, for the negligence with which he treated persons to whom he owed courtesy. His burlesque of Dawkins has been compared with Thac•keray at his best. He certainly was a master of irony. His contributions to the knowl edge of Creek syntax and metres are solid and permanent. To the emendation of texts he brought, rare keenness and a marvelous memory. Though more scientific methods now prevail. especially in textual collation, it is generally agreed that Porson opened the way to the new era. After his death, several works left in manuscript were published: Ricardi Porsoni ddrcrsaria ( 1812 ), Tracts and Miscellaneous Criticisms (1815), Pnusan ins (1820), Lc.ricon of Photius ( 1822 ) , :Votes on l..%'uidas (1834). and Correspon dence, edited by Luard (Cambridge, 1867). Con sult the Life by Watson (London, 1861) • Table Talb• of Samuel Rogers (ih. l856) ; and Luard. Cambridge Essays (ib., 1857).
PORT (of uncertain etymology). (1) A naval term to denote the left side of a vessel to an observer looking forward. See HELM. (2) In architecture the term port is used as an equiv alent of portal (q.v.).