Person Information

Biography

Mentioned in 18510526FMS_WHS as possible law firm for Frederick William Seward to clerk with in Albany.
Entry: "PORTER, John Kilham, jurist, b. in Waterford, N. Y., 12 Jan., 1819; d. there, 11 April, 1892. He was graduated from Union in 1837, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He went to Albany in 1848, where he was associated with a firm in the practice of his profession. Upon the death of Nicholas Hill, Jr., a member of the law firm, Mr. Porter succeeded him in arguing the firm's cases before the court of appeals. He was Charles O'Conor's associate in the famous Parish testamentary case, and brought to a successful issue on behalf of Horace Greeley the libel suit which I)e Witt C. Littlejohn began against him in 1862. Mr. Porter was appointed in 1864 to fill an unexpired term on the bench of the court of appeals. He was elected the next year to the same post for an eight years' term, but resigned after three years' service, and came to New York city. He was a member of the committee which examined the public accounts of New York city during the Tweed ring's infamy, and aided the friends of honest government, while at the same time he refused retainers from Tweed and his associates. He represented railroad and church corporations in difficult litigations, of which the Erie railroad and Trinity church cases are memorable instances. He was one of the counsel in the famous Beecher Tilton trial, and was senior counsel for the people in the trial of President Garfield's murderer."

Letter References

Citations

Biography and Citation Information:
Biography: 
Mentioned in 18510526FMS_WHS as possible law firm for Frederick William Seward to clerk with in Albany. Entry: "PORTER, John Kilham, jurist, b. in Waterford, N. Y., 12 Jan., 1819; d. there, 11 April, 1892. He was graduated from Union in 1837, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He went to Albany in 1848, where he was associated with a firm in the practice of his profession. Upon the death of Nicholas Hill, Jr., a member of the law firm, Mr. Porter succeeded him in arguing the firm's cases before the court of appeals. He was Charles O'Conor's associate in the famous Parish testamentary case, and brought to a successful issue on behalf of Horace Greeley the libel suit which I)e Witt C. Littlejohn began against him in 1862. Mr. Porter was appointed in 1864 to fill an unexpired term on the bench of the court of appeals. He was elected the next year to the same post for an eight years' term, but resigned after three years' service, and came to New York city. He was a member of the committee which examined the public accounts of New York city during the Tweed ring's infamy, and aided the friends of honest government, while at the same time he refused retainers from Tweed and his associates. He represented railroad and church corporations in difficult litigations, of which the Erie railroad and Trinity church cases are memorable instances. He was one of the counsel in the famous Beecher Tilton trial, and was senior counsel for the people in the trial of President Garfield's murderer."
Citation Type: 
Book or Book Chapter
Book or Monograph Title: 
Appletons' Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Volume 7
Author(s) or Editor(s): 
James Grant Wilson, John Fiske
Publisher Location: 
New York
Publisher Name: 
D. Appleton & Co.
Year: 
1901
Start Page: 
219
Citation Notes: 
Google Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=f6oLAAAAIAAJ&lpg=PA219&ots=Ukt89pRKNE&dq=john%20kilham%20porter%20death%201892&pg=PA219#v=onepage&q=john%20kilham%20porter%20death%201892&f=false
Citation for Birth Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
http://www.nycourts.gov/history/legal-history-new-york/legal-history-eras-04/history-era-04-porter.html
Title of Webpage: 
Historical Society of the New York Courts
Website Viewing Date: 
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 - 14:45
Website Last Modified Date: 
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 - 14:45
Citation for Death Info:
Citation Type: 
Book or Book Chapter
Book or Monograph Title: 
Appletons' Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Volume 7
Author(s) or Editor(s): 
James Grant Wilson, John Fiske
Publisher Name: 
D. Appleton & Co.
Year: 
1901
Start Page: 
219
Citation Notes: 
Google Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=f6oLAAAAIAAJ&lpg=PA219&ots=Ukt89pRKNE&dq=john%20kilham%20porter%20death%201892&pg=PA219#v=onepage&q=john%20kilham%20porter%20death%201892&f=false