Death of Dr. William Porter Ray

Dr. William Porter Ray, the well-known traveler and litterateur, died of malignant small-pox at the hospital at Portsmouth, Va., on the night of the 1st inst. Dr. Ray was a native of Massachusetts, and a pupil of Ben Butler, when the latter was a schoolmaster. He entered and was graduated at Harvard College, and subsequently studied at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, from which he received the degree on Doctor of Philosophy. After completing his studies, he began to travel over the various countries of Europe on foot. His wanderings of this nature were probably more extensive than those of any man living, and at one time he wrote a series of interesting sketches of travel and life, under the title of Fourteen Thousand Miles Afoot. He returned to his native country, and studied for the ministry of the Episcopal Church, upon the duties of which he entered at Indianapolis. Before many years he left the ranks of the clergy, and joined those of literature. He came to this City, and for several years before the breaking out of the war was employed mainly in writing for the weekly Press, to which he contributed many fine descriptive and philosophic sketches and articles. After the capture of Norfolk, he went down there, and engaged in various journalistic enterprises. Latterly he has been the special correspondent of the New York Times, writing for that print under the signature of "Tewksbury." He was engaged in writing for us an account of Gen. Butler's late movement in the direction of Richmond, when he was seized by the disease which has carried him to his grave.

Dr. Ray was a man of solid learning, of great and varied accomplishments, and of a most genial and noble spirit. Through all the many struggles of this devious world, he has passed at last into the serene atmosphere above. He was about forty years of age.

Source: NY Times, Saturday, Mar 5, 1864