William Field Porter

William Field Porter (24 January 1784 – 30 March 1869) was a ship owner from Liverpool, who migrated to South Australia in 1838.

Later, in the War of 1812, Tiger, still under Porter's command, was granted a letter of marque to operate offensively, not just defensively, against American shipping.

Porter became a prominent sea captain, operating a small fleet out of his own yard at Liverpool.

It became apparent to him that Adelaide would be the main settlement in South Australia and that immediate prospects for Port Lincoln would be limited.

[10] Impatient for success, he decided to forego the significant investment and effort he had made in the fledgling settlement (e.g. building a house, establishing a bank and donating to a proposed Church of England).

Although Porter's tenure in Port Lincoln only lasted 18 months, he had, nevertheless, been appointed the first Magistrate of the Eyre Peninsula and his family left its name at 'Porter Bay'.

He built a house and store on Auckland's waterfront and commenced trading from there with stock brought on the Porter.

[12] In 1841 Governor Willam Hobson appointed Porter to his first Legislative Council, a small body with only an advisory role.