Charles W. Porter

Charles Walcott Porter was born in Hartford, Vermont on July 11, 1849; he was the son of Judge John Porter (1798-1888) and Jane F. Foster (1811-1900).[1] Porter was educated in Hartford, and then graduated from Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire and Phillips Andover Academy in Massachusetts.[1]

After completing his education, Porter moved to Montpelier, where he studied law with Benjamin F. Fifield, and was admitted to the bar.[1] He practiced in partnership with Fifield and Clarence H. Pitkin; after Fifield retired, Pitkin and Porter practiced together until 1880, after which Porter carried on his own practice.[1] From 1887 until his death, he was president of the Berlin Granite Company.[1]

A Republican, Porter was Vermont's Deputy Secretary of State from 1872 to 1884.[1] In 1884, longtime incumbent George Nichols retired, and Porter became Secretary of State.[1] He served until 1890, when he was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination.[2]

Porter died at the home of his brother in law in New Bedford, Massachusetts on August 1, 1891.[3] He had been ill for more than a year, and traveled extensively in an effort to restore his health.[4] Physicians diagnosed him with malaria, though they were unable to determine how he had contracted it or when.[4] He was buried at Green Mount Cemetery in Montpelier.[5]

In 1885, Porter married Florence B. Bailey, the daughter of Charles W. and Olive E. Bailey of Montpelier.[1]