Frederic A. Potts
Encyclopedia
Frederic Augustus Potts was an American
businessman and Republican party
politician who was the Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey
in 1880.
Potts was born in 1836 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania
to George Alexander Henry and Emily Dilworth (Gumming) Potts. His father was the head of the New York branch of the wholesale coal and iron firm of Lewis Audenried & Company. Potts followed in his father's footsteps, working in the coal and iron business in New York City
. He controlled an extensive business as a coal merchant.
Potts had a farm in Pittstown
, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
, and from this base he was recruited to become the Republican candidate for the House of Representatives
in New Jersey's 4th congressional district
. He was defeated, although by a narrower than usual margin in a district that was known as "the Democratic Gibraltar." He was elected to the New Jersey Senate
in 1873 as a Republican, breaking a long succession of Democratic candidates in the Hunterdon County district. He ran for the House of Representatives seat again in 1878 and lost by only 620 votes.
In 1880 he was the Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey
and was defeated by the Democratic
nominee, George C. Ludlow
, by a margin of 651 votes of some 250,000 ballots cast.
Prior to 1880, Potts was a director of the Central Railroad of New Jersey
. In 1880 he reorganized the New Jersey Midland Railroad, which merged with other railroads to form the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
. He was elected president of the railway and remained in this position until his death. He died in 1888 at his family residence in New York at the age of 52.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and Republican party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician who was the Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
in 1880.
Potts was born in 1836 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Pottsville is the only city in and the county seat of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 15,549 at the 2000 census. The city lies along the west bank of the Schuylkill River, north-west of Philadelphia...
to George Alexander Henry and Emily Dilworth (Gumming) Potts. His father was the head of the New York branch of the wholesale coal and iron firm of Lewis Audenried & Company. Potts followed in his father's footsteps, working in the coal and iron business in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He controlled an extensive business as a coal merchant.
Potts had a farm in Pittstown
Pittstown, New Jersey
Pittstown is an unincorporated area within portions of Alexandria Township and Franklin Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States, named after William Pitt. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08867...
, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
, and from this base he was recruited to become the Republican candidate for the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in New Jersey's 4th congressional district
New Jersey's 4th congressional district
New Jersey's 4th Congressional District elects one member of congress by the first past the post method, it is currently represented by Republican Chris Smith. He has represented the district since 1981....
. He was defeated, although by a narrower than usual margin in a district that was known as "the Democratic Gibraltar." He was elected to the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
in 1873 as a Republican, breaking a long succession of Democratic candidates in the Hunterdon County district. He ran for the House of Representatives seat again in 1878 and lost by only 620 votes.
In 1880 he was the Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
and was defeated by the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee, George C. Ludlow
George C. Ludlow
George Craig Ludlow was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 25th Governor of New Jersey from 1881 to 1884.-Biography:...
, by a margin of 651 votes of some 250,000 ballots cast.
Prior to 1880, Potts was a director of the Central Railroad of New Jersey
Central Railroad of New Jersey
The Central Railroad of New Jersey , commonly known as the Jersey Central Lines or CNJ, was a Class I railroad with origins in the 1830s, lasting until 1976 when it was absorbed into Conrail with the other bankrupt railroads of the Northeastern United States...
. In 1880 he reorganized the New Jersey Midland Railroad, which merged with other railroads to form the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway , also known as the Susie-Q, or simply the Susquehanna, is a Class II American freight railway operating over 500 miles of track in the northeastern states of New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It was formed in 1881 from the merger of several...
. He was elected president of the railway and remained in this position until his death. He died in 1888 at his family residence in New York at the age of 52.