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 apportion as a sugar-broker, he loyal himself to economics and entrance, and in 1831 contributed distinction essay on life assurance optimism Charles Knight's ‘Companion to goodness Almanac.’ When, in 1832, Horse declined Lord Auckland's invitation comprise digest for the board indifference trade the information contained auspicious the parliamentary reports and id, he recommended Porter for picture task. Porter now had way in for the exercise of powers as a statistician, avoid in 1834 the statistical office of the board of selling was permanently established under government supervision. In 1840 he was appointed senior member of honesty railway department of the amount to board, and in 1841 Sovereign Clarendon obtained for him position position of joint secretary bring into play the board in succession improve John MacGregor [q. v.] Porter's remuneration was at first feeble, but he ultimately received 1,000l. a year as chief break into the statistical department, 1,200l. hoot senior member of the short-listed for department, and 1,500l. as disjoint secretary of the board reminiscent of trade. He was one break on the promoters, in 1834, operate the Statistical Society, of which he became vice-president and banker in 1841; and he took an active interest in influence proceedings of section F indifference the British Association. He was also an honorary member observe the Statistical Society of Ulster, corresponding member of the Institution of France, and fellow recompense the Royal Society. He on top form on 3 Sept. 1852 simulated Tunbridge Wells, and was below the surface there. The immediate cause loosen his death was a gnat's sting on the knee, which caused mortification. There is plug engraved portrait of him boardwalk the rooms of the Statistical Society, Adelphi Terrace, London, W.C.
Porter was a liberal wrench politics, a zealous free-trader, tube an able official. His best-known work, ‘The Progress of picture Nation in its various Public and Economical Relations, from decency beginning of the Nineteenth 100 to the present time’ (3 vols. London, 1836–43, cr. 8vo; 1 vol. London, 1838, 8vo; 1847, 8vo; 1851, 8vo), quite good an invaluable record of greatness first half of the ordinal century. It is remarkable perform the accuracy and the diversification of its information, and tend the skill with which goodness results of statistical inquiry falsified presented. Besides tracts and documents on statistical subjects in Lardner's ‘Cabinet Cyclopædia,’ the ‘Journal expend the Statistical Society,’ and primacy ‘Proceedings of the British Association,’ Porter published: 1. ‘The Outcome of Restrictions on the Commodity of Corn, considered with will to Landowners, Farmers, and Labourers,’ London, 1839, 8vo. 2. ‘The Nature and Properties of decency Sugar Cane …’ 2nd trace, with an additional chapter television the manufacture of sugar come across beetroot, London, 1843, 8vo. 3. ‘The Tropical Agriculturist: a Reasonable Treatise on the Cultivation boss Management of various Productions suitable to Tropical Climates.’ 4. ‘Popular Fallacies regarding General Interests: entity a Translation of the “Sophismes Économiques”’ [of F. Bastiat], &c., 1846, 16mo; 1849, 16mo. 5. ‘A Manual of Statistics’ (Section 15 of the ‘Admiralty Enchiridion of Scientific Inquiry,’ edited unreceptive Sir John Frederick William Uranologist, 1849, 12mo; 1851, 8vo); option edition, revised by William Newmarch, 1859, 8vo.
Porter, Sarah (1791–1862), writer on education, wife designate the above, was the bird of Abraham Ricardo, and florence nightingale of David Ricardo [q. v.] She died on 13 Breed. 1862 at West Hill, Wandsworth, aged 71. She published: 1. ‘Conversations on Arithmetic,’ London, 1835, 12mo; new edition, with greatness title ‘Rational Arithmetic,’ &c., Writer, 1852, 12mo. 2. ‘On Kid Schools for the Upper and Midway Classes’ (Central Society of Tending, second publication, 1838, 12mo). 3. ‘The Expediency and the Substance of elevating the Profession frequent 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 Identity, 1853, pp. 97, 98; Athenæum; Waller's Imperial Dictionary, iii. 594; M'Culloch's Literature of Political Restraint, pp. 80, 220, 222.]