Porteus, BEILBY, was the youngest but one of nineteen children, and was born at York, 8th May 1731, his parents being both natives of Virginia. He was educated at Ripon and Christ's College, Cambridge, and graduated as tenth wrangler in 1752. He was at once made a fellow of his college, took orders in 1757, and became domestic chaplain to Archbishop Secker in 1762. His preferences were the small livings of Ruckling and Wittersham in Kent (1765), which he soon exchanged for the rectory of Hunton in the same county, the rectory of Lambeth (1767), the mastership of the Hospital of St Cross, near Winchester (1769), the bishopric of Chester (1776), and of London, in succession to Dr Lowth (1787). He resigned Lambeth when made Bishop of Chester, but only gave up Hunton when appointed to the see of London. Bishop Porteus died 13th May 1809. He was a sound Churchman, yet moderate, a great enemy of profanity and Sunday concerts, and a warm friend of the West Indian slaves. He was a judicious observer of the times, as in his prudently delayed commendation of Sunday-schools. His learning was inconsiderable, and the popularity of his Lectures on St Matthew's Gospel, and especially his Summary of Christian Evidences, was solely due to the absence of better books. Porson called him 'Proteus,' and Parr described him as 'a poor paltry prelate, proud of petty popularity, and perpetually preaching to petticoats.'
See the Panegyric, rather than Life, by the Rev. Robert Hodgson (1811), editor of his works in 6 vols.; and a very full correspondence in Notes and Queries for 1879-81.