Porter, Peter B. (Peter Buell), 1773-1844

Porter was a member of the New York State Legislature, a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York State, a major general in the War of 1812, and United States Secretary of War from 1828 to 1829. He was a strong supporter of the Whig Party.

Congressman, general of New York State Militia during the War of 1812, and partner in Porter, Barton & Company.

Congressman, Secretary of War.

U.S. secretary of war, U.S. representative, lawyer, and army officer of New York

Peter Porter is a British poet and reviewer.

U.S. congressman, major general of militia in War of 1812, Secretary of State of New York; involved in commercial ventures with brother Augustus in the early transportation industry of the northwest frontier.

Congressman, general of New York State militia during the War of 1812, and partner in Porter, Barton & Company.

U.S. Congressman, major general of militia in the War of 1812, Secretary of State of New York, American Commisisoner of survey party for Treaty of Ghent to determine international boundary from St. Lawrence River to Lake of the Woods, Secretary of War under John Quincy Adams, early organizer of the Whig party. Was also involved in commercial ventures (with brother Augustus and others) in the early transportation industry of the northwest frontier.

Peter A. Porter, grandson of Peter B. Porter, was president of the village of Niagara Falls, N.Y. State Assemblyman and U.S. Congressman, a leader in regional history and the Niagara Frontier Landmarks Association, author of many articles on regional history and a longtime custodian of Peter B. Porter's papers.

U.S. Congressman, major general of militia in the War of 1812, Secretary of State of New York, American Commissioner of survey party for Treaty of Ghent to determine international boundary from St. Lawrence River to Lake of the Woods, Secretary of War under John Quincy Adams, early organizer of the Whig Party. Was also involved in commercial ventures (with brother Augustus and others) in the early transportation industry of the northwest frontier.

Peter A. Porter, grandson of Peter B. Porter, was president of the village of Niagara Falls, N.Y., State Assemblyman and U.S. Congressman; a leader in the Niagara Frontier Landmarks Association; author of many articles on regional history; and a longtime custodian of Peter B. Porter's papers.

Peter Buell Porter was born on August 14, 1773 at Salisbury, Conn., the son of Col. Joshua Porter and Abigail Buell. He graduated from Yale College in 1794, and in 1795 became a resident of Canandaigua, Ontario County, New York. That same year, his brother, Judge Augustus Porter, paid his first visit to Niagara Falls.

Porter was appointed county clerk of Ontairo County from 1797 to 1805, and in 1801, he was elected to the New York State Assembly from the same county. By 1810, Peter B. Porter had moved to Black Rock on the Niagara River, and was subsequently associated with the development of that area. He became a member of the firm of Porter, Barton and Company which developed a monopoly of the transportation business on the portage between Lewiston below the falls and above Schlosser. As a Congressman from 1809 to 1813, he was an unsuccessful advocate of grants of public land in aid of roads and canals. In 1810 Porter assisted DeWitt Clinton in the selection of the route of the Erie Canal.

During the War of 1812, he was a leading factor in military operations. By 1814, he was made a brigadier-general of volunteers by Governor Daniel D. Tompkins of New York, and was brevetted a major-general after the battle of Lundy's Lane which was fought on July 25, 1814. President James Madison appointed him a major-general in the U.S. Army.

After the war, in 1815, he became Secretary of State of New York. He served on the International Boundary Commission in 1819, and in 1828 was appointed Secretary of War by President John Quincy Adams.

General Porter later became a resident of Niagara Falls where he had extensive business interests with his brother. In 1825, both men issued an invitation to develop Niagara Power through the location of manufactories and towns at the falls. These companies could then utilize the power of the rapids some 60 feet above the falls. Unfortunately, they were ahead of their time and their plan had to be modified to include construction of a harbor, with a wharf opposite Grass Island, near the end of river naviagation, and a canal, a 'hydraulic canal' or large raceway. The Porter brothers were the power pioneers of Niagara; unfortunately, they did not live to see the accomplishment of their undertaking.

General Porter married Mrs. Letitia Grayson, they had one son, Peter A. Porter, and one daughter, Elizabeth Porter. He died in Niagara Falls on March 20, 1844.