James Porter (diplomat) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir James Porter
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| British Envoy to the Imperial Court at Brussels | |
| In office 1763–1765 |
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| Preceded by | Diplomatic Relations broken off due to Seven Years' War |
| Succeeded by | William Gordon |
| British Minister to the Ottoman Empire | |
| In office 1747–1762 |
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| Preceded by | Stanhope Aspinwall |
| Succeeded by | Henry Grenville |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1710 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | December 1776 (aged 65–66) Central London |
| Nationality |  British |
| Spouses |
Clarissa Catherine de Hochepied
11 October 1755
(m. 1765, |
| Relations | George Larpent (grandson) |
| Children | Anna Larpent George de Hochepied, 6th Baron de Hochepied Clara Porter |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
Sir James Porter (born 1710, died 1776) was an important British diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in another nation. He was also a scientist who wrote about space and rocks. He was a member of the Royal Society, a famous group for scientists.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sir James Porter was born in 1710 in Dublin, Ireland. His father was a military captain. James started working for a business in London. In his free time, he taught himself mathematics.
A Career in Diplomacy
Porter worked with an important person named Lord Carteret. In 1741, he joined the English embassy in Vienna, Austria. An embassy is like an office for diplomats in a foreign country.
Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire
Later, Porter became the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire in Istanbul. The Ottoman Empire was a very large and powerful empire at that time. He was appointed to this role in 1746. He arrived in Istanbul in 1747.
During his time there, he wrote a book. It was called Observations on the religion, law, government, and manners, of the Turks. This book described life in Turkey in great detail. It was a very important work.
Porter was a self-taught scientist. While in Istanbul, he wrote papers about astronomy and geology. Astronomy is the study of space and stars. Geology is the study of Earth's rocks and soil. In 1749, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a big honor for scientists. He asked to leave his post in 1761.
Diplomatic Work in Brussels
In 1762, Porter became the British minister in Brussels. Brussels is the capital city of Belgium. He found that living in Brussels was too expensive. So, he resigned from his job in 1765. He then retired to Richmond, near London. He was made a knight in 1763, earning him the title "Sir."
Family Life
On October 11, 1755, James Porter married Clarissa Catherine de Hochepied. They were married in Turkey. Clarissa's father was the Dutch Ambassador to Constantinople. Her family was known for being Dutch diplomats.
James and Clarissa had five children together. Three of their children lived to adulthood:
- Anna Margaretta Porter (1758–1832) is famous for her daily diary. She wrote in it from 1773 to 1830.
- George Porter (1760–1828) became a Lieutenant-General. He was also a Member of Parliament.
- Clara Porter was adopted by her older sister, Anna.
Sir James Porter passed away at his home in London in December 1776.
