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Sarah Porter

1813 – 1900

American educator

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About Sarah Porter

Lived 1813 – 1900 (aged 86). Sarah Porter was an American founder and teacher, known for Miss Porter's School.

Sarah Porter (August 16, 1813 – February 18, 1900) was the American educator who founded Miss Porter's School, a private college preparatory school for girls.

Biography

She was born in Farmington, Connecticut, to Rev. Noah Porter (1781 – 1866) and his wife, Mehetable "Meigs" Porter (1786 – 1874). Her older brother, Noah Porter, was President of Yale College from 1871 to 1886. in New Haven, and, uncharacteristically for women of the time, studied privately with Yale College professors. She taught in Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania, and returned to Connecticut to found a female counterpart to Simeon Hart's Academy for Boys. Porter opposed women's colleges and "discouraged her students from attending college". She also did not "hire college-educated teachers" – in a 1883 letter, Porter wrote "I do not want one college trained woman—they are narrow, arrogant—and do not infuse the spirit which I want".

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Founder, teacher
Nationality
Known for
Miss Porter's School
Awards
Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame

People in Sarah Porter's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Sarah Porter's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Sarah Porter?

American educator

When was Sarah Porter born?

Sarah Porter was born on 17 August 1813 in Farmington.

When did Sarah Porter die?

Sarah Porter died on 18 February 1900 in Farmington, Connecticut.

What was Sarah Porter's occupation?

Sarah Porter was a founder and teacher.

What was Sarah Porter known for?

Sarah Porter was known for Miss Porter's School.

What nationality was Sarah Porter?

Sarah Porter was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Sarah Porter

· Wikidata: Q7422704

· DBpedia: Sarah Porter

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Sarah Porter. https://biography.guide/sarah-porter/

MLA: "Sarah Porter." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/sarah-porter/.

Chicago: "Sarah Porter." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/sarah-porter/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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