James Porter (diplomat)

Sir James Porter
Born	1710
Died	1776
Nationality	British
Occupation	Diplomat

Sir James Porter (1710–1776) was a British diplomat.

Career

Porter was a business associate of Lord Carteret, and in 1741 joined the staff of the English embassy to Austria, in Vienna, and then became British ambassador to the Sublime Porte of the Ottoman Empire in Istanbul. He was appointed on 4th October 1746, arriving on February 11, 1747 at Constantinople.

His appointment stemmed from his connections with Carteret, Sir Thomas Robinson, ambassador in Vienna, and Mr Amyand of the Levant Company of merchants in Constantinople. A self-educated man of science, during his time in Constantinople he wrote papers on astronomy and geology, as well as publishing his memoirs, a detailed and comprehensive description of life in Turkey. He was recalled at his own request on 1st May 1761. He departed from Constantinople on May 24th.

Upon leaving Constantinople Porter became British minister in Brussels from 1762–1765 and, finding the lifestyle there too expensive, retired to Richmond, near London, where his associates included a friend from his travels in Turkey, Lord Besborough.

Porter married into the Hochpied dynasty of Dutch diplomats in the city and his son George became Baron de Hochpied, Baron and Magnat of Hungary, and Lieutenant-General.

References

• "Turkey: Its History and Progress". journals and correspondence of Sir James Porter (London: Hurst and Blackett). 1854.