Rash's Surname Index
Notes for David Rittenhouse PORTER
David Rittenhouse Porter (October 31, 1788 – August 6, 1867) was the ninth Governor of Pennsylvania. He served from 1839 to 1845.
Born near Norristown, Pennsylvania, he was a business owner for a while until business failures and recession drove him into politics. He served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1819, and in the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1836. He narrowly defeated incumbent governor Joseph Ritner in 1838. The narrow margin of victory, contested by Ritner supporters, led to the Buckshot War. Porter led the state through a recession and helped to suppress anti-Catholic riots in Philadelphia, known as the Philadelphia Nativist Riots. Following his term as governor, he returned to business; Porter owned an iron works and promoted a transcontinental railroad.
A residence hall at Penn State's University Park campus is named for Governor Porter. Porter Township in Clarion County is named after the former governor.
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