Albert Gallatin Porter (1824-1897), was an Indiana governor, and United States Congressman.

Biography

Born on April 20, 1824 in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, he was the son of a bank teller and a county clerk. He attended Hanover College and he graduated from Asbury University in 1843 with a law degree. He was admitted to the Indiana bar in 1845 and set up a corporate law practice in Indianapolis, where he also entered politics as a city councilman.

In 1853 he was appointed reporter of the supreme court of Indiana. He joined the Republic Party in 1858 over his disagreement with the Democratic position on slavery. In 1859 he was elected to congress as a Republican, serving on the 36th and 37th congresses, holding his seat until March 3, 1863. On March 5, 1878 he was appointed first comptroller of the United States Department of the Treasury, but he resigned the position to become governor of Indiana, which he was from 1881 until 1885. A clause in the constitution prevented him from seeking reelection that year but he was urged to run in the 1888 election which he declined. In 1889 Porter was appointed U.S. minister to Italy and served in that capacity until 1892.

In 1895 Porter suffered a fall from which he never recovered. He was bed ridden for two years until he died aged 74 on May 3 1897 in his home in Indianapolis. He was interred at Crown Cemetery

References

See also

• List of Governors of Indiana

External links

• NYT Obituary
• Biography and portrait from Indiana Historical Bureau
• Biographical Directory of Congress