Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

his active interest in the university to the
time of his death.
Dr. Porter was a clear and virile
thinker, and wielded a powerful, facile
and apparently indefatigable pen. His
writings cover the widest range, and a
complete bibliography includes at least
one hundred and seventy-five separate
volumes, essays, reports and lectures.
Some of his most notable works are "The
Human Intellect," "Books and Reading,"
"Science and Sentiment," "Elements of
Moral Science," "Life of Bishop Berke-
ley," and "Kant's Ethics," a critical exposition.
His best known work, however,
is "The Human Intellect, with an
Introduction Upon Psychology and the
Human Soul" (1868), comprehending a
general history of philosophy, and follow-
ing in part the "common-sense" philosophy
of the Scottish school, while accepting
the Kantian doctrine of intuition and
declaring the notion of design to be
a priori. He also edited several successive
editions of Webster's Dictionary from
1847 until his death. His reputation as a
philosopher and theologian was world-
wide, while his knowledge of the classics,
of New England history, and English
etymology, was exceptionally deep. He
published in 1840 a "Historical Discourse
in Commemoration of the 200th Anniversary
of the Settlement of Farmington ;"
he was the author of the "Educational
System of the Puritans and the Jesuits,"
published in 1851 ; a "Review of the
Philosophy of Herbert Spencer;" and a
"Review of Evangeline," published in
1882. Dr. Porter was undoubtedly one of
America's most scholarly metaphysicians.
His labors as a lexicographer in connection
with the revision of the second and
later editions of "Webster's Unabridged
Dictionary of the English Language"
were very arduous and brought him great
honor and fame, as well as universal
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
16
recognition of his scholarly attainments.
The degree of Doctor of Divinity was
conferred upon him by the University of
the City of New York in 1858, and that of
Doctor of Laws by the Western Reserve
College in 1870, by Trinity College of
Connecticut in 1871, and by the Univer-
sity of Edinburgh in 1886, the year after
that famous institution of learning cele-
brated its tercentenary.
There were few men better known or
more deeply revered in the city of New
Haven than Dr. Porter. He was a vital
figure in the public life of the city for
more than a quarter of a century through
his efforts to secure cooperation between
the University and the city. He was one
of the pioneers in the New Haven City
Missions, and identified himself through-
out the entire period of his residence in
the city with every movement designed to
advance civic welfare.
In 1836, Dr. Porter married Mary
Taylor, of New Haven, daughter of Rev.
Nathaniel W. Taylor, D. D. (see Taylor
VI). On coming to New Haven in 1846,
he took up his residence on Hillhouse
avenue, where his wife passed away in
1888, aged seventy-six years, and where
he died four years later. Both are buried
in the Taylor family lot in the Grove
Street Cemetery, New Haven. Dr. and
Mrs. Porter were the parents of four chil-
dren : I. Martha Day, who resided in the
old Porter homestead on Hillhouse
avenue. New Haven ; her death occurred
November 6, 1922. 2. Rebecca Taylor,
deceased. 3. Nathaniel Taylor, deceased
in early childhood. 4. Sarah, died just
before reaching womanhood.
Noah Porter, D. D., LL.D., died at his
home in New Haven, Connecticut, at the
venerable age of eighty years, to the close
of his career a revered and vital figure in
the life of the university and city. He
left to his State a priceless legacy in his