Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/405

 POTTER

POTTER

pliia, and the diocese increased to such an extent that it was found advisable to divide it in 1865. He was married in 1824, to Maria, daughter of President Eliphalet Nott. of Union college. His six sons, Clarkson Nott (q.v.), Howard, Robert Brown (q.v.), Edward Tucker- man, Henry Codman (q.v.), and Eliphalet Nott (q.v.), filled im- portant stations in life, and his only daughter was mar- ried to Launt Thompson, the sculptor. In 1846 Bishop Potter received the degree of D.D. from Harvard, and that of LL.D. from Union. He delivered lectures on the natural theology and Christian evidences, before the Lowell Institute, Boston, 1845-49 ; edited several important works, and is the author of : Political Economy, its Objects, Uses, and Principles (1840); The Prin- ciples of Science, applied to the Domestic and Mechanic Arts (1841); TJie School and School- master (1843); Hand-book for Readers and Stu- dents (1843) ; Discourses, Cliarges, Addresses, Pastoral Letters, etc. (1858), and Religious Philoso- pliy. He made a voyage around Cape Horn for his health, in 1865, and died in the harbor of San Francisco on the day of his arrival, July 4, 1865.

POTTER, Charles Nelson, jurist, was born in Cooperstown, N.Y,, Oct. 31, 1852 ; son of George "Washington and Mary Jane (Marcellus) Potter, and grandson of Royal and Chloe (Priest) Potter, and of John and Elizabeth (Johnson) Marcellus. He attended the public schools of Grand Rapids, Mich., and was graduated from the law depart- ment of the University of Michigan in 1873. He was admitted to the bar in 1873 ; removed to Cheyenne, Wyoming, in 1876, and was married Aug. 22, 1877, to Bessie, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Slater) Ireland of Muskegon, Mich. He was city attorney, 1878-81 and 1888-91 ; pro- secuting attorney of the county, 1881-83 ; a member of the state constitutional convention in 1889 ; attorney-general of Wyoming, 1891-95 ; a member of the board of education of Chej^enne, 1888-97 and associate justice of the supreme court of Wyoming, 1895-97, and on Dec. 8, 1897, became chief justice.

POTTER, Clarkson Nott, representative, was born in Schenectady, N.Y., April 25, 1825; son of the Rev. Alonzo and Maria (Nott) Potter. He was graduated from Union college in 1842 ; studied civil engineering at the Rensselaer Poly- technic institute ; was a tutor at Union college, 1845-47 ; and obtained employment as a civil engineer in Milwaukee, Wis. He was admitted to the bar and established himself in practice in New York city in 1848. He was married in Oc- tober, 1853, to Virginia, daughter of Matthew, and Louisa Ann (Mitchell) Pope. He was a Democratip

representative from New York in the 41st, 42d and 43rd congresses, 1869-75, declining nomination to the 44th congress ; was president of the Demo- cratic state conventions of 1875 and 1877 ; and a delegate to the Democratic national conventions of 1872 and 1876. He was a representative in the 45th and 46th congresses, 1877-81, in the 45th congress, securing the passage in the house of a bill establishing the U.S. court of claims. He was the unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant governor of New York in 1879. The honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Columbia in 1874. He was a trustee of Union college, 1863-82, and president of the American Bar association at the time of his death, which occurred in New York city, Jan. 23, 1882.

POTTER, Edward Eells, naval officer, was born in Medina, NY'., May 9, 1833. His parents removed to Rockford, 111., from where he was appointed midshipman U.S.N., Feb. 5, 1850. He was promoted passed midshipman, June 20, 1856, and lieutenant July 9, 1858, serving on the St. Laivrence on the coast of Brazil, 1857-59. He was assigned to the Western Gulf squadron, May 9, 1860 ; serving as executive officer on the Wis- saJiickon during the bombardment and passage of Forts Jackson and St. Philip and the capture of New Orleans. He also passed the Vicksburg batteries twice ; participated in the engagement with the ram Arkansas, and was promoted lieutenant-commander, July 16, 1862. He was attached to the De Soto of the Eastern Gulf squadron, then to the Wabash of the North Atlantic squadron, and commanded the ironclad Mahopac, 1864. He commanded the Chippewa of the North Atlantic squadron in 1865 ; partici- pated in the second engagement at Fort Fisher and the bombardment of Fort Anderson, and was executive officer of the Rhode Island, 1865- 67, and of the Franklin, Admiral Farragut's flag- ship, 1867-68. He was promoted commander, June 3, 1869 ; commanded the Shawmut of the North Atlantic squadron, 1871-72, and with her ascended the Orinoco river to Angostura, Vene- zuela, recovering from the revolutionists two steamers belonging to an American company. He commanded the Constellation, carrying sup- plies to the sufferers in Ireland in 1880, and was promoted captain, July 11, 1880. He was at the Brooklyn navy yard, 1881-83 ; commanded the Lancaster from December, 1885, to September, 1886 ; the League Island navy yard, 1886 ; was governor of the U.S. Naval Home in Philadel- phia, 1891, and 1893-95 ; commanded the receiv- ing-ship Minnesota, 1891-93, and the Norfolk navy yard in 1893 ; was promoted to the rank of commodore, June 27, 1893, and was retired through age limit, May 9, 1895. He died at his home at Belvidere, 111., Jan. 8, 1902.