Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-16
THE DEAD DESIGNER.
A Life Devoted to His Country and Full
Of Stirring Events.
JOHN L. PORTER In TWO EAYIES.
Constructor of the First Iron-CIad War
yesseI-His Inclined Shield Placed On
the Old Merrimac-Tiis Life.

NORFOLK, VA, December l5.-(Spe-
cial. MIR. John l.. Porter. formerly Naval
Constructor In the United States navy,
and Chief Constructor I'm the Confederate
States navy, designer Of the first iron
clad steam vessel. died at his residence
I'm Portsmouth Thursday night. as reported
in the Dispatch. from general breaking
down of the system, superinduced by
softening OF the brain. His end was free
from pain. and he passed away sur
rounded by his family. Mr.. PorterS life
was full OF stirring events. He was born
in Portsmouth September -, 1913, and was
the grandson of Captain William Porter.
who served in the Virginia line during the
Revolutionary war. He belonged to one
of the oldest families in Eastern Virginia,
being the fifth generation In descent from
Samuel Porter. planter, VINO settled IN
Norfolk county In 1850.
When young man he learned the busi-
ness OF ship-building under his father,
who owned an extensive ship-yard in
Portsmouth. and after his fathers death
carried on the business for some time.
| He built several vessels. Of which he was
| part owner engaged in the West India
! trade. In 1876 he took n position under
the government, and was sent to Pitts
| burg, Penn, TO superintend the building
Of the iron-steam sloop-of-war Alieghany'
/ He had previously built the iron-cutter
| Water Witch for the government at the
| Washington navy-yard.
SHOT PROOF.
The Allegheny was successfully launch
ell and taken down the river to New Or
| leans. While engaged upon this vessel
| he conceived the idea Of building an IRON
clad steam vessel which would be shot
proof He prepared full drawings of the
| vessel and submitted them to the Navy
| Department ut Washington. This was
probably the first iron-clad vessel ever de-
signed, but the time had not then ar
rived for the building Of ironclads and
| nothing came of his design, but he re-
tanned a copy Of his plans for future use
| The beginning OF the secession movement
among the Southern States in lS6l found
! him at the Pensacola navy-yard, in Flor
ida, with the rank Of a full constructor
in the United States navy. Shortly be-
fore that he had built the sloops-o
! Pensacola and Seminole at that navy
! yard. and when the yard was surrendered
! IN the Alabama and Florida troops in
January, 1861, he was ordered to report
at Washington TO superlntend the htting
! out of the slOop-Ot-war Pawnee. This
vessel completed. he was ordered to the
| Ciosport navy-yard. and reported for duty
TO Commodore McCauley on the nth OF
April. just two days before the destruc-
tion and the evacuation of the yard by the
United States authorities.
WITH HIS NATIVE STATE.
He witnessed the work Of destruction.
| When II became known that Virginia had
seceded. though originally opposed 10
secession. he resigned his position in the
| United States navy and cast his for
tunes with his native State. Receiving an
appointment in the Virginia navy. he
reported for duty to Commodore Forrest
at Gosport navy-yard, and knowing the
vast difference in the naval resources OF
the North and South. his thoughts re-
Cured to the iron-clad vessel which he
had designed I'm Pittsburg fifteen years
before.
FEATURES RETAINED.
He made some alterations in his plans
so as TO meet the limited means at the
disposal OF the Confederacy, but retained
the principal features OF a shot-prool
shield and inclined sides, etc. He made a
model of 1t. which he submitted TO Com
lmodore Marshall Parks, of Norfolk whC
was then at work getting up a navy fol
the State Of North Carolina. Commo
dore Parks at once went to Raleigh, anC
obtained authority from the Governor anC
| Legislature to build several vessels aftcl
the design to operate in Eastern NOrti
Carolina, but before operations could b'
commenced on them Carolina joined th'
| COnfederacy, and turned over to 1t al
of her naval effects. Virginia also JOINED
the Confederacy. and Mr.. Porter tool
his model to Richmond and submitted
II to Mir. 5. r.. Mallory, Secretary of tn,
Confederate States navy.
THE SHIELD APPLIED.
Mr.. Mallory submitted II to a board %
three officers, of whom Mr.. Porter Wa:
! one, and. as there would have been toe
much time consumed with the limited
facilities at hand IN building "a new en-
gine for a new boat, the board recon
mended that the shields, etc. be placed
on the Merrimac. which had been burne,
To the waters edge, and sunk by the
| Federal authorities when they evacuated
| the navy-yard in April, and which haC
the machinery in her comparatively little
injured Mr.. Porter returned 10 the Cos
port navy-yard, drew his plans convert
ing the vessel into an iron-clad, tool
them TO Richmond and submitted then
to Secretary Mallory. who approved them
and ordered them TO be carried out. Tn,
world knows the result.
SEAGOING IRONCLADS.
Mr. Porter was subsequently appoint.
ed Chief Constructor in the Confederate
navy and designed several seag0ing iron
clads which the Confederate Government
endeavored To have built in Europe he
was actively engaged during the entire
war planning vessels and inspecting those
in course of construction all over the
South and surrendered at Greensboro, n
c., with Johnston's army. At the be
ginning of the war he endeaYored TO per
suade Secretary Mallory TO import d
lot OF steam engines and iron plates fol
| ironclad gunboats before the southern
ports were blockaded. but Mr.. Mallory
under the impression that the war wouiC
not last long. thought it useless expense
CONFISCATED AND SOLD.
After the war Mr.. Porter returned tC
Portsmouth to find the accumulation d
years swept away and even his hom'
conhscated and sold by the United State!
Government.
He was probably the oldest odd-Fel
low in Virginia in length Of membership
having been one OF the charter member
OF Old Dominion Lodge, No. 8, of Ports
mouth, which was instituted December
1896 lie was installed as noble grand o
the lodge June 90 1898.
During the yellow-fever epidemic II
Portsmouth in 1850 he remained in thu
city, and as a member OF the commit
tee was active in relieving the sick an'
burylng the dead. He was president o
the first Board OF Councilmen of Ports
mouth after its Incorporation, and wa
intimately identified with the early es
tablishment OF its public schools. He ha
been for "a number of years past presl
dent of the Official Board OF the Monu
mental Methodist Episcopal church tn
last occupation in which he was engaged
was that OF superintendent OF the Nor
folk County Ferries, which position NJ
filed from January, 1873 TO 1879. Ills "iie
10 whom he was married iA-lSS4. SURVIVES
him He leaves also five children, twent!
grandchildren, and four great-grand
children living.