The times., 1901-05-22
OBITUARY.


Gen. Fftz-John Porter died at his home
at o'clock. He had been ill for some
time
Fitz-John Porter was born in Ports
mouth, n. H, August &. 1872. and was
the son of Capt. John Porter, of the
United States Navy, and a nephew OF
Commodore David Porter, who command
ed the famous frigate Essex in 1Si2-14.
Fitz-John Porter attended school with
benjamin Hallowell, of-AleXandria, Va,
and his education was continued at Phil
lips Academy, Exeter, N II. He next
took a course of study at the school of
Stephen NJ. Weld, in Jamaica Plains,
Mass, in preparation for the West Point
Military Academy. entering that institu-
ton in 1871 and graduating in 1S45, the
eighth member of a class numbering
forty-fve.
Lieutenant Porter. in 1916. joined the
army operating against Mexico at Point
Isabel Tex, and saw active service at
Saltillo, during the siege of Vera Cruz,
and in the battle of CerrO GOrdo, Contre-
ras, Molino del Rey. the siege of ChapuI-
tepec and the captGI5 Of Mexico. He
was brevetted successfully captain and
major for gallant and meritorious con-
duct" at Molino del Rey and the City of
Mexico.
In the spring of 1862, as a general of
volunteers, Porter was assigned with his
division to Heintzelman's corps and or
dered to the Peninsula. He was in COM
mand at the siege of Yorktown, and after
the surrender Of that stronghold he was
placed in command of the Fifth Army
Corps. For meritoriOus service he was
brevetted brigadier general in the Regu-
lar Army and appointed a major general
Of volunteers.
From the Peninsula General Porter was
transferred with his corps to northern
Virginia. He then served under General
Pope for a brief time. when he rejoined
the Army of the Potomac.
In November, 1862, General Porter was
relieved of his command without any rea-
son being given Soon after his arrival
in Washington an order was issued from
the War Department directing the forma-
tion of a m:iItary commission to examine
into certain charges which had been made
against him by General Pope. This order
was afteIward revoked and a court-mar-
tial ordered, and on November % General
Porter was placed under arrest. He was
accused OF disGbeyipg several orders is
sued by General Pope He was convicted
by the court martial and cashiered from
quiry was appointed to examine into the
findings OF the court-martiaI and viudi-
Gated him from all the charges made
against him, giving him high praise for
his military service. In 1886 a bill was
passed in Congress restoring General Por-
ter to his rank in the army.
After his retirement from the military
service General Porter was appointed a
Commissioner OF Public Works in New
York City and he was employed by the
New Jersey Central Railroad Company
for several years as assistant receiver
Afterward he received an appointment as
police commissioner of the city of New
York. and on the expiration of his term
of office in that department was made a
afgssff irwin 81
his term to private life, where he has
since remained.
DR.. William D. Thomas. professor of
physiology in Richmond College. Rich
mond Va, died little after midnight
yesterday morning at the Church Home
Infrmary, in Baltimore. He was taken
to the infrnary about a month ago suf-
fering from an internal tumor. The loca-
tion of the tumor was discovered by Bal
timore physicians and about three weeks
ago it was removed by an operation con
Quoted by DR.. Hugh II. Young, of the
Johns Hopkins Hospital. AS far as med
icaI and surgical science could discern,
the operation was a complete success. DR.. |
Thomas began to recover rapidly He
seemed especially better last night.
About midnight the nurse in charge left
him apparently resting perfectly easy and
went to another part of the institution to
secure some fresh bandages. When the
nurse returned Dr. Thomas was in sink
ing condition and unable to speak He
died I'm a few minutes before medical aid
could be administered. DR. Young said
this morning that death was probably due
to a stroke of apOpleXy, Dr. Thomas was
sixty-five years old. He was a brilliant
scholar and was one of the most promi-
nent men in Richmond.