PORTER, Noan (1811-92). An American professor of philosophy and a president of Yale University, born in Farmington. Conn., where his father, Rev. Noah Porter, was for more than fifty years minister of the Congregational Church. After graduating at. Yale in 1831. he was for a short time rector of the ancient Hopkins Gram mar School and subsequently was a tutor in Yale College. He then entered the Congrega tional ministry, and was successively a pastor in New Milford, Conn. (1836), and in Springfield. Mass, (1843-40). Time Clark professorship of nmetaphysic•s was then established at Yale. and the young minister became the first incumbent of the (-hair. which he held from 1840 until his death, In the winter of 1833-54 he studied under Tmndelenburg and other professors in the 1,Tniversity of Berlin. When Dr. Woolsey resigned the Yale presidency in 1871. Porter was chosen as his successor, and for fifteen years he dis charged time difficult duties of that station, lec turing also as a professor, preaching in the col lege pulpit. and engaging in many literary and scholastic avocations. He resigned the presi dential chair in 1886, being followed by Timothy Dwight. His principal publication is a well
known on The HUMM! Intellect (1868), which was supplemented by one entitled 7'1ee Elements of Moral Science (1885). He is also widely known as the editor-in-chief of two quarto editions of 11'cbst,r's Dictionary (1801-10001. His minor works included: Books and Reading (1870); Science of Nature Vs. Science of .1Ian (1881); Science and ,Cgntimr'ny (1882): and a commemoration of Bishop Berkeley (1885). Many of his best essays appeared in periodicals. After his death the tributes to his memory by some of his friends and colleagues were printed in a small volume. One of the sisters of Presi dent Porter, Miss SARAH PORTER (1813-1900), established and maintained in Farmington school for girls. which acquired a national repu tation and is still distinguished by the excellent character of those who have enjoyed its training. A brother, Samuel Porter. spent his life as one of the professors in the Gallaudet College for Deaf Mutes in Washington, and wrote the guide to pro nunciation for the edition of Webster's dictionary of 1890.