Porter, David

(1780-1843), am American naval hero, came of a seafaring family, and fought in the wars with France and Tripoli. In 1814 he waa appointed. a captain, and with the ‘ E ex” captured a number of. British prizes and the man-of-war ‘‘Alert.’". In 1813 he. staytecdon a cruise in the Pacific with the ‘‘ E ex,” in the course of which he. nearly destroyed the British whale-fishery in that ocean. In the haxbor of Valpersise on March 28, 1814, the ‘‘ E ex"’ and the " Phoabe ” fought a desperate battle, in which the former, completely disabled, was compelled to surrender. Porter fought against the West India pirates in 1824, and from 1826 to 1829 directed the Mexican navy. He was then U.S. Consul to the Barbary States, and from 1831 until his death he was U. S. Minister resident to Turkey. 114