Howard Potter

Potter was born in Schenectady, New York on July 8, 1826. He was the second son of Alonzo Potter and Maria (née Nott) Potter (1799–1839). After his mother's death in 1839, following the birth of her seventh child, Howard and his siblings were placed under the care of his mother's cousin, Sarah Benedict, who became his father's second wife in 1840 and with whom he had three more children. Among his siblings were U.S. Representative Clarkson Nott Potter, General Robert Brown Potter, architects Edward Tuckerman Potter and William Appleton Potter, university president Dr. Eliphalet Nott Potter, Bishop Henry Codman Potter, and sister Maria Louisa Potter, who married sculptor Launt Thompson and lived in Italy. His father was a professor and later vice president of Union College before becoming the Episcopal Bishop of Pennsylvania.

His maternal grandparents were Sarah Marie (née Benedict) Nott and Dr. Eliphalet Nott, a Presbyterian minister who served as President of Union College for more than sixty years. His paternal grandparents were Anne Brown (née Knight) Potter and Joseph Potter, a farmer whose Puritan ancestors emigrated from England to Portsmouth, Rhode Island in the 1600s. Among his many distinguished relatives included Nathan Hale, the patriot schoolmaster, and uncle Horatio Potter, the Episcopal Bishop of the New York.{{cite book |last1=Hodges |first1=George |title=Henry Codman Potter, Seventh Bishop of New York |date=1915 |publisher=Macmillan |page=[https://archive.org/details/henrycodmanpott02hodggoog/page/n142 118] |url=https://archive.org/details/henrycodmanpott02hodggoog |access-date=7 August 2019 |language=en}}

In 1842, Potter entered Union College, of which his grandfather was still serving as president, and graduated in 1846. After his graduation, he remained at Union for a year as a tutor in Latin and Greek. Potter later he studied law and was admitted to the New York Bar, but gave up the practice of law to become Secretary and Treasurer of the Novelty Iron Works, then the most notable iron works in the U.S. After his 1849 marriage, he spent six months or more as an attaché at the Court of Berlin, Prussia.

In 1859, at the invitation of his father-in-law James Brown, he entered the firm of Brown Brothers & Company, becoming a partner in 1861. Potter was active in the merchant banking houses of Brown Bros. & Co. and Brown, Shipley & Co., the British wing of the Brown banking business. At the time of his death, he was the head of Brown Shipley in London.{{cite book |last1=Brown |first1=John Crosby |title=A Hundred Years of Merchant Banking: a history of Brown Brothers and Company, Brown, Shipley & Company and the allied firms. Alexander Brown and Sons, Baltimore; William and James Brown and Company, Liverpool; John A. Brown and Company, Browns and Bowen, Brown Brothers and Company, Philadelphia; Brown Brothers and Company, Boston |date=1909 |publisher=Priv. Print. |url=https://archive.org/details/ahundredyearsme00browgoog |page=[https://archive.org/details/ahundredyearsme00browgoog/page/n482 324] |access-date=7 August 2019 |language=en}}

Potter was a prominent member of charitable organizations throughout his career, serving as a trustee of the Children's Aid Society from 1857 to 1897; president of the [http://www.columbiaortho.org Orthopedic Dispensary] from 1878 to 1891; president of the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor from 1878 to 1884; president of the Niagara Park Association; treasurer of the United States Sanitary Commission; one of the managers of St. Luke's Hospital from 1869 to 1886; treasurer of St. Johnland from 1871 to 1883; first vice-president of the State Charities Aid from 1874 to 1880; trustee of his alma mater Union College, among other charitable and educational institutions.

He was also a founding member of both the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and was a member of the Century Association, the New York Yacht Club, the Downtown Club, the University Club and the Tuxedo Club.

In 1849, Potter was married to Mary Louisa Brown (1827–1898),{{cite news |title=DEATH LIST OF A DAY; Mrs. Mary Louise Potter |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1898/04/19/102524981.pdf |access-date=8 August 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=19 April 1898}} the daughter of James Brown and Louisa Kirkland (née Benedict) Brown, the youngest sister of Potter's grandmother, both daughters of the Rev. Joel Benedict.{{cite book |last1=De Leon |first1=Thomas Cooper |title=Belles, Beaux and Brains of the 60's |date=1909 |publisher=G.W. Dillingham Company |page=[https://archive.org/details/bellesbeauxbrain00dele/page/246 246] |url=https://archive.org/details/bellesbeauxbrain00dele |access-date=19 July 2018 |language=en}} Mary's half-brother was fellow Brown Bros. & Co. partner, John Crosby Brown. Together, they were the parents of nine children, seven of whom lived to adulthood, including:

• James Brown Potter (1853–1922),{{cite news |title=JAMES B. POTTER DIES IN VIRGINIA; Father of Mrs. James A. Stillman and Her Champion inFight to Clear Her Name.FIND BANKER DEAD IN BED Nephew of Late Bishop Potter Divorced His First Wife After She Became an Actress. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1922/02/23/107048900.pdf |access-date=8 August 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=23 February 1922}} who married actress Cora Urquhart in 1877.{{cite news|title=Divorce For J. B. Potter. Husband of Cora Urquhart Potter Secures Absolute Decree. Charges Willful Desertion. Letters Show Actress Would Adopt Stage Career Despite His Wishes. Her Hatred of the Potters |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0F17F9345811738DDDAC0894DE405B808CF1D3 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 5, 1900 |access-date=2013-01-06 }}{{cite news |title=J. Brown Potter To Marry. Will Wed Miss Handy In Richmond To-Day. News A Surprise. |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0810FF3A5F13718DDDA10A94D1405B848CF1D3 |newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 28, 1904|access-date=2013-01-06}}
• Maria Potter (1855–1939),{{cite news |title=MRS. J. KENNEDY TOD; Widow of Banker and Niece of Late Bishop Henry C. Potter |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1939/09/24/113362923.pdf |access-date=8 August 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=24 September 1939}} who married banker John Kennedy Tod.{{cite news |title=Died |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1925/06/04/101668929.pdf |access-date=7 August 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=4 June 1925}}
• Elizabeth Miller Potter (1856–1945),{{cite news |title=MRS. CLARENCE CARY |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1945/10/17/94025470.pdf |access-date=8 August 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=17 October 1945}} who married lawyer Clarence Cary.{{cite web |title=Mrs. Clarence Cary (1859-1945) |url=https://www.nyhistory.org/exhibit/mrs-clarence-cary-1859-1945 |website=www.nyhistory.org |publisher=New-York Historical Society |access-date=19 July 2018}}
• Grace Howard Potter (1858–1937), who did not marry and left her estate to two nieces.{{cite news |title=Nieces Share $440,000 Estate |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1937/09/17/94426202.pdf |access-date=8 August 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=17 September 1937}}
• Howard Cranston Potter (1864–1896), husband of Alice Kershaw Potter, rather than work for the family business represented his father in law Milwaukee grain broker Charles James Kershaw in Tacoma, Washington. He died in a mysterious manner in San Francisco while staying at Cliff House.{{cite news |title=DIED |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1896/02/19/105741728.pdf |access-date=8 August 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=19 February 1896}}{{cite news |title=DID POTTER FALL OVER THE CLIFF?; His Last Known Companion, Dr. Hicks, Tells of Their Parting. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1896/02/14/105740367.pdf |access-date=8 August 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=14 February 1896}}
• Bertha Howard Potter (1866–1933), who married Robert Shaw Minturn Jr. in 1906.{{cite news |title=MRS. R. S. MINTURN IS DEAD IN PARIS; Widow of Philanthropist and Welfare Leader Was Niece of Late Bishop Potter. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1933/06/30/105396579.pdf |access-date=8 August 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=30 June 1933}}{{cite news |title=MRS. MINTURN LEFT $13,500 TO PUBLIC; Four Institutions Here Will Be Aided After Death of Sister, Who Gets Estate. 3 NIECES REMEMBERED They Receive $5,000 Outright, Share Later in Residuary and in a Trust Fund. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1933/07/29/99835322.pdf |access-date=8 August 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=29 July 1933}}
• Ashton Howard Potter (1870–1914),{{cite news |title=CAPT. ASHTON POTTER DEAD; Nephew of Late Bishop Potter Married Mrs. G. G. Depew, Heiress. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1914/08/06/101923313.pdf |access-date=8 August 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=6 August 1914}}{{cite news |title=DIED. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1914/08/08/118950199.pdf |access-date=8 August 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=8 August 1914}} a "Wyoming cattle king" who married Mary Louise McNutt (1872–1947). They divorced and he married Grace Goodyear (1872–1914),{{cite news |title=Mrs. Grace Goodyear Potter. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1914/09/13/100103596.pdf |work=The New York Times |date=13 September 1914}} the former wife of Ganson Depew (nephew of Chauncey Depew) in 1910.{{cite news |title=DEPEW-POTTER WEDDING.; Capt. H. A. Potter, a Nephew of the Late Bishop, Met Fiancee Aboard. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1910/04/13/102037683.pdf |access-date=8 August 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=13 April 1910}}{{cite news |title=POTTER WEDS MRS. DEPEW.; Ceremony Delayed Until Captain's Decree of Divorce Was Signed. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1910/04/14/104929508.pdf |access-date=8 August 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=14 April 1910}}

Potter died in London, England on March 24, 1897.{{cite news |title=HOWARD POTTER DEAD.; The Well-Known Lawyer and Club-Man Passed Away Suddenly Yesterday in London. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1897/03/25/102538790.pdf |access-date=7 August 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=25 March 1897}} In his will, he left all of his property to his wife and specifically cut off his daughter-in-law Cora,{{cite news |title=CUT OFF FROM A LARGE FORTUNE Mrs. James Brown Potter, the Actress, Has Been Disinherited. SHE DOES NOT WORRY. She Has a Fortune of Her Own Which She Has Made by Her Own Efforts--Some of Her Experiences |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34685301/cut_off_from_a_large_fortune/ |access-date=8 August 2019 |work=Democrat and Chronicle |date=18 Jun 1897 |language=en}} and all children born to her since January 1, 1880. He named his wife, eldest son James, and son-in-laws John and Clarence as his executors.{{cite news |title=HOWARD POTTER'S WILL -- His Daughter-in-law, Cora Urquhart Potter, Cannot Inherit. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34685044/howard_potters_will_his/ |access-date=8 August 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=6 May 1897 |language=en}} His widow died in 1898 at her home on Park Avenue in New York City.

Through his son Howard Cranston Potter, he was the grandfather of Bertha Marie Potter Paschall Boeing (1891–1977), who married twice; first to Nathaniel Paschall, and second to aviationist William Boeing, with whom she had William E. Boeing Jr. (1922–2015).

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{find a Grave|185588426}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110707115355/http://alonzopotter.com/HowardPotter.aspx Descendants of Alonzo Potter: Howard Potter]

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Category:1826 births

Category:1897 deaths

Category:American people of English descent

Category:American bankers

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Category:19th-century American Episcopalians

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Category:19th-century American philanthropists

Category:19th-century American businesspeople