Henry Kirke Porter
Encyclopedia
Henry Kirke Porter was an American
businessman and Representative
of the United States Congress
for Pennsylvania's 31st congressional district
.
. In 1860, he graduated from Brown University
in Providence, Rhode Island
. He also helped found the YMCA
that year. He attended the Newton Theological Seminary in Newton Center, Massachusetts.
In 1862, he enlisted in the 45th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, and was muster
ed out in July 1863.
He continued his theological training at the Rochester Theological Seminary in Rochester, New York
, but in 1866 he was given a gift of $
20,000 by his father, which changed the course of his life.
He invested that money with a partner, John Y. Smith, and formed the Smith & Porter Machine works. They opened a small shop in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, which grew to become H. K. Porter, Inc
. Porter served as president of the company.
He was President of the Pittsburgh YMCA from 1868–1887, and was President of the Western Pennsylvania Institute for the Blind in 1904. He served in the United States House of Representatives
in the 58th United States Congress
from 1903 - 1905 as an Independent Republican.
He continued as President of H. K. Porter, Inc. until his death at age 81 in Washington, D.C.
, and was buried in the Allegheny Cemetery
in Pittsburgh.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
for Pennsylvania's 31st congressional district
Pennsylvania's 31st congressional district
Pennsylvania's 31st congressional district was one of Pennsylvania's districts of the United States House of Representatives.-Geography:Created in 1903, the district served portions of the city of Pittsburgh...
.
Biography
Porter was born in Concord, New HampshireConcord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
. In 1860, he graduated from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. He also helped found the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
that year. He attended the Newton Theological Seminary in Newton Center, Massachusetts.
In 1862, he enlisted in the 45th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, and was muster
Muster
Muster may refer to:* Muster , a process or event for the of accounting for members in a military unit* Muster , the rounding-up of livestock* Muster , a competitive skills event held between fire departments...
ed out in July 1863.
He continued his theological training at the Rochester Theological Seminary in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, but in 1866 he was given a gift of $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
20,000 by his father, which changed the course of his life.
He invested that money with a partner, John Y. Smith, and formed the Smith & Porter Machine works. They opened a small shop in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, which grew to become H. K. Porter, Inc
H. K. Porter, Inc
H. K. Porter, Inc. manufactured light-duty railroad locomotives in the USA, starting in 1866. The company became the largest producer of industrial locomotives, and built almost eight thousand of them...
. Porter served as president of the company.
He was President of the Pittsburgh YMCA from 1868–1887, and was President of the Western Pennsylvania Institute for the Blind in 1904. He served in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in the 58th United States Congress
58th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :* Republican : 209 * Democratic : 176* Silver Republican : 1TOTAL members: 386-Senate:* President: Vacant* President pro tempore: William P. Frye -Members:...
from 1903 - 1905 as an Independent Republican.
He continued as President of H. K. Porter, Inc. until his death at age 81 in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and was buried in the Allegheny Cemetery
Allegheny Cemetery
Allegheny Cemetery is one of the largest and oldest burial grounds in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.It is a nonsectarian, wooded hillside park located at 4734 Butler Street in the Lawrenceville neighborhood and bounded by Bloomfield, Garfield, and Stanton Heights...
in Pittsburgh.