Howard Potter
Encyclopedia
Howard Potter was an industrialist, investment banker, diplomat and philanthropist, and a partner in Brown Bros. & Co.
.
He was born in Schenectady, New York
on July 8, 1826 and died in London
, England
on March 24, 1897. He was the father of Howard Cranston Potter, James Brown Potter and Grace Howard Potter.
– Professor and later Vice President of Union College
and subsequently Episcopal Bishop of Pennsylvania – and Maria Nott, daughter of Dr. Eliphalet Nott
, President for more than sixty years of Union College.
On both sides he came from New England Puritan
stock of English descent, and counted among his distinguished relatives Nathan Hale
, the patriot schoolmaster, and other noted New Englanders, the Rev. Joel Benedict of Connecticut, his maternal great grandfather, and the brother-in-law of Mr. James Brown(merchant banker); Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter
, Bishop of New York, his uncle; Clarkson N. Potter, a noted lawyer and Congressman; Gen. Robert B. Potter of the 9th Army Corps, the first man to cross the bridge at Antietam, gaining that day for the Union cause; Rt. Rev. Henry Codman Potter
, a distinguished bishop of New York; Dr. Eliphalet Nott Potter, President of Union and later of Hobart College
, and other brothers distinguished in architecture and other walks in life.
Potter entered Union College in 1842 and graduated in 1846. After his graduation he remained for a year as tutor in Latin and Greek. 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. In 1859, at the invitation of James Brown, he entered the firm of Brown Brothers & Company
, becoming a partner in 1861.
In 1849 Potter married Mary Louisa Brown, the daughter of James Brown, and after his marriage spent six months or more as an attaché at the Court of Berlin
, Prussia
.
Potter was active in the merchant banking houses of Brown Brothers & Co. and Brown Shipley, the British wing of the Brown banking business. At the time of his death he was still working with Brown Shipley in London.
from 1857 to 1897; President of the 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
during the War; 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 Union College, as well as of other charitable and educational institutions.
Brown Bros. & Co.
Brown Bros. & Co. was an investment bank from 1818 until its merger with Harriman Brothers & Company in 1931 to form Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.-History:...
.
He was born in Schenectady, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on July 8, 1826 and died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on March 24, 1897. He was the father of Howard Cranston Potter, James Brown Potter and Grace Howard Potter.
Life and career
Potter was the second son of Alonzo PotterAlonzo Potter
The Right Reverend Alonzo Potter was an American bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States who served as the third Bishop of Pennsylvania.-Early life:...
– Professor and later Vice President of Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
and subsequently Episcopal Bishop of Pennsylvania – and Maria Nott, daughter of Dr. Eliphalet Nott
Eliphalet Nott
Eliphalet Nott , was a famed Presbyterian minister, inventor, educational pioneer, and long-term president of Union College, Schenectady, New York.-Life:...
, President for more than sixty years of Union College.
On both sides he came from New England Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
stock of English descent, and counted among his distinguished relatives Nathan Hale
Nathan Hale
Nathan Hale was a soldier for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He volunteered for an intelligence-gathering mission in New York City but was captured by the British...
, the patriot schoolmaster, and other noted New Englanders, the Rev. Joel Benedict of Connecticut, his maternal great grandfather, and the brother-in-law of Mr. James Brown(merchant banker); Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter
Horatio Potter
The Right Reverend Horatio Potter , was an Episcopal Bishop in the Diocese of New York.The youngest brother of Bishop Alonzo Potter, he was born near Beekman , Dutchess County, New York on 9 February 1802, to Quaker farmers Joseph and Anne Potter...
, Bishop of New York, his uncle; Clarkson N. Potter, a noted lawyer and Congressman; Gen. Robert B. Potter of the 9th Army Corps, the first man to cross the bridge at Antietam, gaining that day for the Union cause; Rt. Rev. Henry Codman Potter
Henry Codman Potter
Henry Codman Potter was a bishop of the Episcopal Church of the United States. He was the seventh Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York.-Life:...
, a distinguished bishop of New York; Dr. Eliphalet Nott Potter, President of Union and later of Hobart College
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, located in Geneva, New York, are together a liberal arts college offering Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees. In athletics, however, the two schools compete with separate teams, known as the Hobart Statesmen and the...
, and other brothers distinguished in architecture and other walks in life.
Potter entered Union College in 1842 and graduated in 1846. After his graduation he remained for a year as tutor in Latin and Greek. 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. In 1859, at the invitation of James Brown, he entered the firm of Brown Brothers & Company
Brown Bros. & Co.
Brown Bros. & Co. was an investment bank from 1818 until its merger with Harriman Brothers & Company in 1931 to form Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.-History:...
, becoming a partner in 1861.
In 1849 Potter married Mary Louisa Brown, the daughter of James Brown, and after his marriage spent six months or more as an attaché at the Court of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
.
Potter was active in the merchant banking houses of Brown Brothers & Co. and Brown Shipley, the British wing of the Brown banking business. At the time of his death he was still working with Brown Shipley in London.
Charitable involvement
Among the positions of public trust held by Mr. Potter were the following: He was Trustee of the Children's Aid SocietyChildren's Aid Society
__notoc__The Children’s Aid Society is a private charitable organization based in New York City. It serves 150,000 children per year, providing foster care, medical and mental health services, and a wide range of educational, recreational and advocacy services through dozens of community centers,...
from 1857 to 1897; President of the 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
United States Sanitary Commission
The United States Sanitary Commission was a private relief agency created by federal legislation on June 18, 1861, to support sick and wounded soldiers of the U.S. Army during the American Civil War. It operated across the North, raised its own funds, and enlisted thousands of volunteers...
during the War; one of the Managers of St. Luke's Hospital
St. Luke's Hospital
St. Luke's Hospital may refer to:in Greece* St. Luke's Hospital in Ireland* St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny* St. Luke's Hospital, Rathgar, Dublinin Japan* St. Luke's International Hospitalin Malta* St. Luke's Hospital, Malta...
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 Union College, as well as of other charitable and educational institutions.