[1] He was the son of a clergyman, Peter William Portal, of Huguenot origin.
[1] He started in life as a goldsmith and jeweller on Ludgate Hill, but lost money both in this trade and as a bookseller, and finished his career as a box-keeper at Drury Lane Theatre.
It appears from his Poems that Portal was a close friend of John Langhorne.
[2] Portal's writings include:[2] Neither Vortimer nor Olindo and Sophronia was acted.
Of these Ann Cracroft Portal married Moreton Walhouse, and was step-mother of Edward John Littleton, 1st Baron Hatherton.