Rufus Porter (inventor)

Rufus Porter (1792-1884) was an inventor, painter, and founder of Scientific American. He was born on May 1, 1792, in Boxford, Massachusetts and died on August 13, 1884, in West Haven, Connecticut. A citizen of the United States, Porter was educated at Fryeburg Academy.

As a painter, Rufus Porter gained recognition in landscape painting. He also pursued a career as an inventor in the patent field, notwithstanding his occupation as a painter.