Gilchrist Porter (November 1, 1817 – November 1, 1894) was an American lawyer, jurist, and politician who served two non-consecutive terms as a
U.S. Representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...
from
Missouri
Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...
from 1851 to 1853, then again from 1855 to 1857.
Early life and education
Born in Windsor, near
Fredericksburg, Virginia, Porter received a limited schooling. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in
Bowling Green, Missouri
Bowling Green is a city in Pike County, Missouri, United States. The population was 5,334 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Pike County.
History
Bowling Green was settled in 1819, and designated county seat in 1824. Settled chiefly b ...
. He owned slaves.
Congress
Porter was elected as a
Whig to the Thirty-second Congress (March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1852 to the Thirty-third Congress.
Porter was elected as an
Opposition Party
Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. This article uses the term ''government'' as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning ''t ...
candidate to the Thirty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857). He served as chairman of the Committee on Private Land Claims (Thirty-fourth Congress). From 1866 to 1880 he was a Missouri circuit judge.
Later career and death
He resumed the practice of law until his death, which occurred in
Hannibal, Missouri
Hannibal is a city along the Mississippi River in Marion and Ralls counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the population was 17,312, making it the largest city in Marion County. The bulk of the city is in Mar ...
on November 1, 1894. He was interred in Riverside Cemetery.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Porter, Gilchrist
1817 births
1894 deaths
Politicians from Fredericksburg, Virginia
Whig Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri
Opposition Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri
Missouri lawyers
People from Bowling Green, Missouri
Members of the United States House of Representatives who owned slaves