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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
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House Speaker Biographies


 

Charles Porter

Born: c. 1765.  Died: c. 1848.  Member of the House: Fayette County, 1801-1806, 1807-1808.  Affiliation: Democratic-Republican, Constitutionalist.

The details surrounding the early life of Charles Porter are unknown. He married the former Jane Baird, and the couple had a number of children including John, James, Margaret McFadden, Leah David, Anne Armstrong, Mary French, and Charles.

Charles Porter was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representative as a Democratic-Republican for the 1801-1802 session.  He was re-elected for 4 consecutive sessions from 1802-1806, as well as for the 1807-1808 session after a year hiatus.  In 1804 legislation creating the Union and Cumberland Turnpike Road Company, naming Porter as one of its commissioners, was passed.  Porter was elected as the 43rd Speaker of the Pennsylvania House on December 3, 1805.  For the 1805-1806 session, Porter’s party affiliation was with the Constitutionalists, which were comprised of Federalists and Quids — the latter of which he was noted as being associated with for the 1807-1808 session.

Following the session ending in 1806, he was unsuccessful in his campaign for re-election to the House as a Federalist.  He campaigned for a seat in the United States Congress in 1820 as a Federalist, but was also unsuccessful. In 1828 he served as an associate judge in Fayette County.  Porter served as a trustee and member of the board of directors for Union Academy in Uniontown.

The death date and burial location of Charles Porter are unknown.