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JOURNAL OF 
THE NEW ENGLAND BOTANICAL CLUB 
Vol. 3 July, 1901 No. 31 
THOMAS CONRAD PORTER. 
THOMAS MEEHAN. 
In the death of Dr. Porter, a high priest in botany passes away, 
and the science loses one of its brightest ornaments. It is a serious 
blow to American botany. 
He was born in Alexandria, a small village in Huntington County 
among the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania, on January 22d, 
1822. In due time he entered Lafayette College at Easton, Penn- 
sylvania, and graduated in 1840. With a predilection for the min- 
istry he took a course in the Princeton Theological Seminary, and 
in 1843 was ordained a minister. His love for natural history, how- 
ever, in time induced him to leave his ministerial calling. In 1849 
he accepted the Professorship of Natural History in Marshall Col- 
lege, and in 1853 the same position in Franklin College at Lancaster. 
Finally in March 1866 he was offered by his Alma Mater, Lafayette 
College, the chair of Botany and Zoology, a position which he 
accepted and occupied from the following September until his death 
on the April 27th last. He received the honorary degree of Doc- 
tor of Divinity, and later that of Doctor of Laws. 
The circumstances attending his passing away are pathetic. For 
some time he had been complaining of what he supposed to be 
dyspepsia, regarded by him only as something that interfered with 
active work. At the last hour he was writing to a friend, Benjamin 
H. Smith of Philadelphia, that his physical condition was too weak 
for much bodily exertion, but with the return of spring he should 
revive, and proposed an excursion to the Pocono mountains at the 
end of May. Having written thus far, he was interrupted by his 
housekeeper, — Mrs. Porter had died about two months previously, 
