Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/112

86 '''POTTER. Alonzo'''. P. E. bishop, b. in Beekman (now La Grange), Dutchess co.. N. Y.. 6 July. 1800 ; d. in San Francisco, Cal., 4 July, 1865. His father was Joseph Potter, a farmer, of the Societ ( Friends, an emigrant from Cranston, R. I., in which state other branches of the family are still living. Alonzo first attended the district - school of his native place, which was then taught by a Mr. Thompson, to whose influence in arousing and di- recting the activi- ties of his mind he never forgot that he was greatly in- debted. At twelve years of age he was sent to an academy in Poughkeepsie, and he was gradu- ated at Union col- lege in 1818 with the highest honors. Soon after his graduation he went to Philadelphia, was attracted to the Episcopal church, and entered its communion His thoughts were soon turned to the ministry, and he was directed in his theological studies by the Rev. Dr. Samuel H. Turner. He was presently recalled to Union college as a tutor, and at twenty-one he was made professor of mathematics and natural philosophy. Meantime he pursued his studies, and was admitted deacon by Bishop Hobart. and in 1824 advanced to the priest- hood by Bishop Brownell. In the same year he mar- ried the only daughter of President No'tt. of Union college. In 1826 Prof. Potter was called to the rectorship of St. Paul's church, Boston. After five years of earnest and successful labor he felt constrained, despite the protestations of his peo- ple, to resign his rectorship. In 1832 he was re- called to Union college to fill the chair of moral an 1 intellectual philosophy and political economy. His official position and his personal relationship natu- rally made him the friend and counsellor of the president in the administration of the college. In 1838 he was formally elected its vice-president, and continued to be practically its controlling head until he resigned to become bishop of Pennsyl- vania, 23 Sept., 1845. From his boyhood, owing perhaps in part to his Quaker origin, he cherished a deep sympathy for the oppressed, and through life, in every office, he befriended the negro race. He took great interest in the organization of young men's institutes throughout the state of X'ew York, and immediately on his settlement in Phila- delphia, invoking the help of energetic laymen, established four such fraternities in that city, and gave his personal services as a lecturer before them. When he was called to the episcopate he was al- ready under engagement to deliver in five consecu- tive years before the Lowell institute in l!o-t<>n courses of lectures on "Natural Theology and Christian Evidences," beginning in 1845 and end- ing in 1849. They were given on an open plat- form, without even a brief before him, ami the largest public hall in Boston was filled throughout the entire series. This was the intellectual triumph of his life. As a bishop he was most distinguished for his executive ability. He had a genius for ad- ministration. He devised large plans of b< Mcli- cence, which it was costly to consummate, but they were so well considered before he communicated them to others that men of business and wealth were found ready to co-operate and to contribute for their realization. In his time the Episcopal hospital was founded, built, and endowed with nearly half a million dollars : the Episcopal acade- my, which for half a century had had no sign of its existence but its charter, was revived, its com- modious building was reared and filled with pupils, and its reputation for thorough instruction was made equal to that of any preparatory school in the city; the Philadelphia divinity-school was es- tablished, a valuable property for its occupancy was bought and fitted, and an endowment of sev- eral hundred thousand dollars was secured for its support. These institutions, still developing for the benefit of the present and future generations, owe their inception to Bishop Potter. In the twenty years of his episcopate thirty - five new churches were built in the city of Philadelphia. The growth of the diocese was such that in the year of his death it became necessary to divide it. His vigorous constitution succumbed under the pressure of care and labor that he took upon him- self. In 1859 he was partially relieved by an assist- ant, but it was too late. He died in the harbor of San Francisco, where he had just arrived after a voyage around Cape Horn in search of health. He had received the degree of D. D. from Harvard in 1846, and that of LL. D. from Union in the same year. Bishop Potter was the auther of treatises on logarithms and descriptive geometry, which were printed for the use of his classes in Union college (1822-'6) : ' Political Economy, its Objects, Uses, and Principles" (New York, '1840); "The Principles of Science applied to the Domestic and Mechanic Arts, and to Manufactures and Agricul- ture " (Boston. 1841 ; revised ed.. New York. 1850) ; " The School and the Schoolmaster," with George B. Emerson (1842); " Pland-Book for Readers and Students " (1843) ; " Discourses, Charges, Addresses, Pastoral Letters, etc. " (1858) ; and " Religious Philosophy" (1870). He edited seven volumes of " Harpers' Family Library." with introductory essays; Rev. Samuel Wilk's's "Christian Essay^" (Boston. 1829) ; Maria James's " Poems " (New York, 1839) : and " Lectures on the Evidences of Christianity, delivered in Philadelphia by Clergy- men of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 1853-'4" (Philadelphia, 1855). See " Memoirs of the Life and Services of Rt, Rev. A. Potter, D. D.. LL. D.." by Bishop M. A. De Wolfe Howe (Philadelphia, 1870). His son. Clarkson Nott, legislator, b. in Schenectady, N. Y., 25 April. 1*25 ; d. in New York city, 23 Jan.. 1882, was graduated at Union college in '1842, studied civil engineering at Rensselaer polytechnic institute, and in 1843 went to Milwau- kee", Wis. After being employed a-, an engineer, he studied law, and in 1848 returned to Xew York, where he began to practise. In 1868 he was elected to congress, from the 12th district of that state. as a Democrat, and he was twice re-elected, sitting in that body from 4 March. 1869, till 3 March, 1875. He declined a nomination to the 44th con- gress, but was again chosen for the two -ueci nlm^ terms, and served from 15 Oct., 1877. till 4 March, 1881. During his congressional career Mr. Potter was a member of important committees, and took an active part in the di-eii-sion of the disputed electoral votes of Louisiana and Florida in the presidential election of 1876. In 1879 he received the Democratic nomination for lieutenant-governor of New York, but was defeated. Mr. Potter served as president of the American bar association, and received the degree of LL. D. Another son, Robert Brown, soldier, b. in Sehenectndy. N. Y., 16 July, 1829 ; d. in Newport. R. I., 19 Feb.," 1887, spent