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539:, which he published and edited in New York. The first issue of this magazine was published on January 2, 1841, and was subtitled "the advocate of industry and enterprise, and journal of mechanical, and other scientific improvements". After 23 weekly issues Porter moved the magazine to Boston and renamed it
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that let him make silhouette portraits in less than 15 minutes. (He charged 20 cents apiece for them.) He experimented with a wind-powered gristmill, a washing machine, a corn sheller, a fire alarm, a rope-making machine, and a camera. He invented clocks, railway signals, churns, a distance measuring
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described his remarkable life and "abnormally busy career", which had seen 21 American presidents take office. The magazine pronounced "he has gone to the grave leaving a name 'writ in water,' we still think that in the world of invention his name will be fully blazoned as a material benefactor to
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Later descendants included
Benjamin Porter, who was Rufus' great-grandfather. Benjamin moved to West Boxford in 1716 and became the wealthiest man there. His descendants include ministers, doctors, lawyers, merchants, an army colonel, a ship's captain, a professor of mathematics and several
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During much of this time, and afterwards, Porter was a prolific inventor. His obituary described his "long career of usefulness as an inventor of turbine water wheels, windmills, flying ships, rotary engines, and sundry contrivances for abolishing as far as possible agricultural labor."
543:, with the same sub-title. In this journal he published his plans for the rotary plow, hot air ventilation system, and advertised his general patent agency run in connection with the paper. The magazine survived through 106 issues, the last known one being on January 21, 1843.
576:. He had already built and flown several scale models in Boston and New York. He advertised New York-to-California service, asking a $ 50 down payment for a $ 200 fare, and began building immediately. His first "aeroport" was 240 feet long; it was destroyed by a
580:. Later that year, he began a 700-foot version with new backers, but during a showing of the almost-complete dirigible on Thanksgiving Day, rowdy visitors tore the hydrogen bag and destroyed it. In 1854 his third attempt ended with technical troubles.
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his fellow men... We may add in conclusion that although he has not in any sense attained the fame and eminence of Morse, a Howe, or Edison, Rufus Porter will live as one of the best and brightest examples of the versatility of
American invention."
485:, with the foliage sometimes stamped in with a cork stopper instead of being painted with a brush. Often he would do portraits of the principal household members where he was doing the murals.
375:. He was one of six children. His father was Tyler Porter and his mother was Abigail Johnson. Rufus started school at age 4. The family farm was sold in 1801 and the family moved to
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Porter was noted as missing opportunities to turn his inventions into commercial success. He invented the revolving rifle but sold the rights to
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in the early 17th century. When John died in 1676 he was the largest landowner around, owning property that included the modern cities of Salem,
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Aerial
Navigation: The Practicality of Traveling Pleasantly and Safely from New York to California in Three Days
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Lipman, Jean, "Rufus Porter, Yankee
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appliance, a horsepower mechanism, a churn, a life preserver, a cheese press, and a revolving rifle.
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Porter died on August 13, 1884, at the home of his son, Rufus Frank Porter (1859-?), in
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368:. The family farm descended to Abigail and Tyler Porter, parents of Rufus Porter.
299:(May 1, 1792 – August 13, 1884) was an American painter, inventor, and founder of
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when Rufus was 9 years old. They lived in
Pleasant Mountain Gore, now part of
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A Select
Collection of Valuable and Curious Arts, and Interesting Experiments
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with accommodations for 50 to 100 passengers, aiming to convey miners to the
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A Select
Collection of Valuable and Curious Arts, and Interesting Experiments
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family. The family's first immigrants to the U.S were Mary and John Porter (
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Rufus Porter rediscovered : artist, inventor, journalist, 1792-1884
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Rufus Porter advertisement for his 1849 New York to
California transport
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to scenes of entire towns or harbors, Porter spread his art throughout
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836:; Clarkson W. Potter, Inc., Publishers; New York, New York; 1980
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between 1825 and 1845, decorating some 160 houses and inns in
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806:, third edition, New York, H. W. Wilson, 1965, vol. 1, p. 278
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In 1849 Porter planned to build an 800-foot steam-powered
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In 1849, he married Emma
Tallman Edgar (1820–?) of
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746:"Rufus Porter.—A Representative of American Genius".
525:for $ 100, and the design was permanently shelved.
509:During 1825 and 1826 he published four editions of
356:legislative members. He was related by marriage to
101:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
819:, 1904-1906, at vol. 12, under "Porter, Rufus"
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390:In 1807, he was apprenticed to a shoemaker.
64:Learn how and when to remove these messages
241:Learn how and when to remove this message
223:Learn how and when to remove this message
161:Learn how and when to remove this message
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292:Title page of Porter's pamphlet of 1849
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398:In 1815 Rufus married Eunice Twombly (
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535:In 1841 he bought an interest in the
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973:19th-century American businesspeople
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265:Rufus Porter water color wall mural
953:People from Boxford, Massachusetts
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702:Cambridge Grant Historic District
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546:In 1845 he started a new weekly,
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324:–1676) who emigrated from
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928:American magazine founders
358:Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
834:Rufus Porter Rediscovered
775:. New York: C.N. Potter.
698:Ashburnham, Massachusetts
595:Porter's obituary in the
804:Union List of Serials...
371:Porter was born in West
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322: 1600
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873:Faded Page
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673:Kent House
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362:Rufus King
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213:June 2013
201:verifying
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