Career
Porterfield, born in Greenville, Alabama, on 30 October 1879, was appointed Naval Cadet from Alabama on 8 September 1898. He became a Midshipman in July 1902, Ensign on 2 May 1904, Lieutenant on 2 May 1907, Lieutenant Commander on 4 March 1915, Commander on 1 July 1919, Captain on 16 February 1925, and Rear Admiral on 1 July 1937. His commands included the patrol boats Albatross (SP-1003) and Venetia (SP-431), the gunboat Wheeling (Procter and Gamble-14), and Destroyer Squadron 11.
He died in Oakland, California, on 5 April 1942.
In 1943, the destroyer United States Ship Porterfield (Doctor of Divinity-682) was named in his honor.
