Hannibal Potter
Encyclopedia
Hannibal Potter was an English clergyman and college head in Oxford during the First English Civil War
. He was removed as President of Trinity College, Oxford
in 1648 by the Parliamentary visitors, regaining the position in 1660.
, and Wootton, Northamptonshire
, in 1620, and was preacher at Gray's Inn
from 1635. He was tutor to Henry Gellibrand
.
On 8 August 1643 he was admitted president of Trinity by the visitor, Walter Curle
as Bishop of Winchester
, after a contested election, in which William Chillingworth
is said to have had a majority of votes; Potter had been a chaplain to Curle. During most of his tenure Oxford was the headquarters of the royalist forces; the college was almost empty and close to bankruptcy. College life was far from normal, with admissions of only a very few students, but the first child of Ann Fanshawe
and Sir Richard Fanshawe was born there.
Potter was pro-vice-chancellor during the parliamentary visitation of 1647, and showed some ingenuity in obstructing the visitors. On 13 April he was deprived of the office of president by the parliamentary chancellor of Oxford, Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke
. At the same time he was deprived of Garsington
, a benefice attached to the presidency, and subsequently endured financial hardship. He obtained the curacy of Broomfield, Somerset
, but he was soon turned out, for reading The Book of Common Prayer. He was restored to his offices in 1660, and died on 1 September 1664, being buried in the chapel of Trinity College.
, an experimentalist as well as vicar of Mere, Wiltshire
and numerologist, was his brother. During Hannibal's presidency, Francis was at work in his rooms in Trinity with William Harvey
.
First English Civil War
The First English Civil War began the series of three wars known as the English Civil War . "The English Civil War" was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651, and includes the Second English Civil War and...
. He was removed as President of Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
in 1648 by the Parliamentary visitors, regaining the position in 1660.
Life
He matriculated from Trinity College, Oxford, in 1607, was elected scholar in 1609, graduated B.A. in 1611, M.A. in 1614, B.D. in 1621, and D.D. in 1630; in 1613 he was elected Fellow of Trinity. He was presented to the livings of Over Worton, OxfordshireOxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, and Wootton, Northamptonshire
Wootton, Northamptonshire
Wootton, Northamptonshire is a village about south of Northampton town centre and now part of the Northampton Borough Council area.The village is separated from Hardingstone by the Newport Pagnell Road the B526, formerly part of the A50 road...
, in 1620, and was preacher at Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
from 1635. He was tutor to Henry Gellibrand
Henry Gellibrand
Henry Gellibrand was an English mathematician. He is known for his work on the Earth's magnetic field. He discovered that magnetic declination – the angle of dip of a compass needle – is not constant but changes over time...
.
On 8 August 1643 he was admitted president of Trinity by the visitor, Walter Curle
Walter Curle
Walter Curle was an English bishop, a close supporter of William Laud. Born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, he was educated at St Albans School and at Christ's College, Cambridge , transferring to Peterhouse , of which college he later was elected Fellow.He was bishop of Winchester from 1632 to 1647...
as Bishop of Winchester
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
, after a contested election, in which William Chillingworth
William Chillingworth
William Chillingworth was a controversial English churchman.-Early life:He was born in Oxford, where his father served as mayor; William Laud was his godfather. In June 1618 he became a scholar of Trinity College, Oxford, of which he was made a fellow in June 1628...
is said to have had a majority of votes; Potter had been a chaplain to Curle. During most of his tenure Oxford was the headquarters of the royalist forces; the college was almost empty and close to bankruptcy. College life was far from normal, with admissions of only a very few students, but the first child of Ann Fanshawe
Ann Fanshawe
Ann Fanshawe was an English memoirist.In 1644 she married her second cousin, Richard Fanshawe , Secretary of War to Prince Charles...
and Sir Richard Fanshawe was born there.
Potter was pro-vice-chancellor during the parliamentary visitation of 1647, and showed some ingenuity in obstructing the visitors. On 13 April he was deprived of the office of president by the parliamentary chancellor of Oxford, Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke
Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke
Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke and 1st Earl of Montgomery KG was an English courtier and politician active during the reigns of James I and Charles I...
. At the same time he was deprived of Garsington
Garsington
Garsington is a village and civil parish about southeast of Oxford in Oxfordshire.-Notable Garsington buildings:The earliest part of the Church of England parish church of Saint Mary is the Norman tower, built towards the end of the 12th century. The Gothic Revival architect Joseph Clarke restored...
, a benefice attached to the presidency, and subsequently endured financial hardship. He obtained the curacy of Broomfield, Somerset
Broomfield, Somerset
Broomfield is a village and civil parish in the Sedgemoor district of Somerset, England, situated about five miles north of Taunton. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 224....
, but he was soon turned out, for reading The Book of Common Prayer. He was restored to his offices in 1660, and died on 1 September 1664, being buried in the chapel of Trinity College.
Family
Francis PotterFrancis Potter
Francis Potter was an English clergyman, Biblical commentator, and experimenter, an early Fellow of the Royal Society.-Life:He was second son of Richard Potter , prebendary of Worcester, and his wife, who belonged to the Horsey family of Clifton, Dorset. He was born at Mere vicarage on 29 May...
, an experimentalist as well as vicar of Mere, Wiltshire
Mere, Wiltshire
Mere is a small town in Wiltshire, England. It lies at the extreme southwestern tip of Salisbury Plain close to the borders of Somerset and Dorset....
and numerologist, was his brother. During Hannibal's presidency, Francis was at work in his rooms in Trinity with William Harvey
William Harvey
William Harvey was an English physician who was the first person to describe completely and in detail the systemic circulation and properties of blood being pumped to the body by the heart...
.