James Madison Porter
James Porter | |
|---|---|
1874 portrait | |
| President Judge of the 22nd Judicial District for Wayne County, Pike County, Monroe County and Carbon County | |
| In office 1853–1855 | |
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives | |
| In office 1849–1850 | |
| 18th United States Secretary of War | |
| In office March 8, 1843 – January 30, 1844 | |
| President | John Tyler |
| Preceded by | John Spencer |
| Succeeded by | William Wilkins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 6, 1793 Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | November 11, 1862 (aged 69) Easton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Eliza Michler |
| Military service | |
| Years of service | 1809-1818 |
| Battles/wars | War of 1812 |
James Madison Porter (January 6, 1793 – November 11, 1862) was an American politician who served as the 18th United States Secretary of War and a founder of Lafayette College.
Porter began his career studying law in 1809 and later became a clerk in the prothonotary's office in an effort to manage a volunteer militia company at Fort Mifflin. Porter was admitted to the bar in 1813 and later appointed to attorney general for Northampton County, Pennsylvania. He was a professor of jurisprudence and political economy at Lafayette College (1837-1852), a judge of the twelfth judicial district (1839), ad interim U.S. Secretary of War under President John Tyler (1843), and was elected as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1849.