James Porter (2 October 1827, Belfast – 2 October 1900, Cambridge)The Master Of Peterhouse The Times (London, England), Wednesday, Oct 03, 1900; pg. 4; Issue 36263 was a British academicNational Archives in the second half of the 19th century.
Porter was born on 2 October 1827 in Belfast, the son of Rev. James Porter, Presbyterian minister, Rector of Drumlee, Castlewellan, County Down. 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 Guthrie 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).
Porter taught mathematics at Liverpool CollegeLook & Learn 1851–55, and was ordained deacon in 1853 and priest in 1856.
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; and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge 1881–84.
"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." 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.”
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