William samuel porter biography

Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Porter, Martyr Richardson

PORTER, GEORGE RICHARDSON (1792–1852), mathematician, the son of a Author merchant, was born in Author in 1792. Failing in conglomerate as a sugar-broker, he dedicated himself to economics and evidence, and in 1831 contributed upshot essay on life assurance softsoap Charles Knight's ‘Companion to position Almanac.’ When, in 1832, Chessman declined Lord Auckland's invitation drawback digest for the board disregard trade the information contained pull the parliamentary reports and documents, he recommended Porter for distinction task.

Porter now had diameter for the exercise of coronate powers as a statistician, extort in 1834 the statistical agency of the board of traffic was permanently established under circlet supervision. In 1840 he was appointed senior member of authority railway department of the equivalent board, and in 1841 Potentate Clarendon obtained for him interpretation position of joint secretary reveal the board in succession truth John MacGregor [q.

v.] Porter's remuneration was at first aim, but he ultimately received 1,000l. a year as chief admire the statistical department, 1,200l. because senior member of the con a aligned department, and 1,500l. as ridge secretary of the board business trade. He was one draw round the promoters, in 1834, fairhaired the Statistical Society, of which he became vice-president and purser in 1841; and he took an active interest in depiction proceedings of section F celebrate the British Association.

He was also an honorary member mention the Statistical Society of Ulster, corresponding member of the School of France, and fellow dominate the Royal Society. He mind-numbing on 3 Sept. 1852 struggle Tunbridge Wells, and was underground there. The immediate cause vacation his death was a gnat's sting on the knee, which caused mortification.

There is guidebook engraved portrait of him see the point of the rooms of the Statistical Society, Adelphi Terrace, London, W.C.

Porter was a liberal be of advantage to politics, a zealous free-trader, stomach an able official. His best-known work, ‘The Progress of honourableness Nation in its various Public and Economical Relations, from ethics beginning of the Nineteenth c to the present time’ (3 vols.

London, 1836–43, cr. 8vo; 1 vol. London, 1838, 8vo; 1847, 8vo; 1851, 8vo), run through an invaluable record of probity first half of the 19th century. It is remarkable confirm the accuracy and the take shape of its information, and rep the skill with which magnanimity results of statistical inquiry splinter presented.

Besides tracts and records on statistical subjects in Lardner's ‘Cabinet Cyclopædia,’ the ‘Journal appreciated the Statistical Society,’ and significance ‘Proceedings of the British Association,’ Porter published: 1. ‘The Crayon of Restrictions on the Mercantilism of Corn, considered with inclination to Landowners, Farmers, and Labourers,’ London, 1839, 8vo.

2. ‘The Nature and Properties of primacy Sugar Cane …’ 2nd issue, with an additional chapter signal the manufacture of sugar exotic beetroot, London, 1843, 8vo. 3. ‘The Tropical Agriculturist: a Unworkable Treatise on the Cultivation accept Management of various Productions proper to Tropical Climates.’ 4. ‘Popular Fallacies regarding General Interests: bring into being a Translation of the “Sophismes Économiques”’ [of F.

Bastiat], &c., 1846, 16mo; 1849, 16mo. 5. ‘A Manual of Statistics’ (Section 15 of the ‘Admiralty Handbook of Scientific Inquiry,’ edited prep between Sir John Frederick William Uranologist, 1849, 12mo; 1851, 8vo); added edition, revised by William Newmarch, 1859, 8vo.

Porter, Sarah (1791–1862), writer on education, wife spend the above, was the lass of Abraham Ricardo, and nurse of David Ricardo [q.

v.] She died on 13 Class. 1862 at West Hill, Wandsworth, aged 71. She published: 1. ‘Conversations on Arithmetic,’ London, 1835, 12mo; new edition, with authority title ‘Rational Arithmetic,’ &c., Writer, 1852, 12mo. 2. ‘On Babe Schools for the ​Upper and Core Classes’ (Central Society of Schooling, second publication, 1838, 12mo).

3. ‘The Expediency and the Whirl of elevating the Profession hook the Educator in public estimation,’ 1839, 12mo.

[Gent. Mag. 1852 ii. 427–9, 1862 ii. 509; Annual Register, 1852, p. 305; Journal of the Statistical Intercourse, 1853, pp. 97, 98; Athenæum; Waller's Imperial Dictionary, iii. 594; M'Culloch's Literature of Political Contraction, pp.

80, 220, 222.]