DAVID D. PORTER
(1813-1891)

U.S. Navy admiral and the second Navyofficer to ever reach the rank of admiral. During the Civil War, Porter servedat New Orleans and Vicksburg, as well as overseeing the Capture of Fort Fisher.When President Lincoln was assassinated, Porter was greatly affected, believingthat if he had been present he might have prevented the murder. After the war,he was made Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy and sought to make theschool rival the prestige of West Point Military Academy. Porter also holds thehonor of having one of the longest careers in the history of the United StatesNavy, serving on active duty for 62 years.

Post-war manuscript L.S. “yours asever D. D. Porter” 2pp. 7.75 x 10 in., Washington, June 11 [?], 1871.

Porter writes to “Steve,” in part: “…Ihave read Mrs. [Stephen] Decatur’s letter and I am glad to learn that thingshave turned out better than you anticipated…That young Babcock your wife speaksof, when he first came to the Academy, didn’t even know how to enumeratedecimals. I took him into my house for a few days and prepared him myself to gothrough. I fear they are running mathematics into the ground at the NavalAcademy…I am afraid I will not see you North this summer for my Doctor won’teven let me ride about the city in a low easy carriage and forbids railroadsaltogether…My only sustenance now is cow’s milk…”.

Bears moderate to heavy toning and damping, still boldly signed and very legible. 

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