Augustus Seymour Porter (January 18, 1798 – September 18, 1872) was a U.S. statesman from the state of Michigan.
He was born in Canandaigua, New York, the nephew of Peter Buell Porter and attended Canandaigua Academy. He graduated from Union College, in Schenectady, New York, in 1818, studied law and was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Detroit, Michigan. He was treasurer of the Michigan Pioneer Society in 1837. He became the recorder of Detroit in 1830 and was mayor of Detroit in 1838. He resigned as mayor to run for the Senate, and was succeeded as mayor by Asher B. Bates.
He was elected as a Whig to the United States Senate, and served from January 20, 1840 until March 4, 1845. He did not run for reelection in 1844. He was chairman of the Committee on Roads and Canals, 1841–1845, and was on the Committee on Enrolled Bills, 1841–1843.
He moved to his father’s residence in Niagara Falls, New York, in 1848 and died at there on September 18, 1872. He is interred in Oakwood Cemetery in Niagara Falls, New York.
Famous quotes containing the words augustus and/or porter:
“I am not a literary man.... I am a man of science, and I am interested in that branch of Anthropology which deals with the history of human speech.”
—J.A.H. (James Augustus Henry)
“Vanity is so anchored in the heart of man that a soldier, a soldier’s servant, a cook, a porter brags and wishes to have his admirers. Even philosophers wish for them. Those who write against vanity want to have the glory of having written well; and those who read it desire the glory of having read it. I who write this have perhaps this desire, and perhaps those who will read it.”
—Blaise Pascal (1623–1662)