Howard Potter
Howard Potter | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Schenectady, New York, U.S. |
| Died | March 24, 1897 (aged 70) London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Industrialist, investment banker, diplomat, philanthropist |
| Known for | Partner at Brown Bros. & Co., philanthropy, leadership in charitable organizations |
Howard Potter (July 8, 1826 – March 24, 1897) was a prominent American industrialist, investment banker, diplomat, philanthropist, and partner at Brown Bros. & Co.
Early life
Born on July 8, 1826, in Schenectady, New York, Potter was the second son of Alonzo Potter and Maria (née Nott) Potter. Following his mother's passing in 1839, Sarah Benedict became the caretaker for him and his siblings before marrying their father in 1840. His brothers and sisters included notable figures such as U.S. Representative Clarkson Nott Potter, General Robert Brown Potter, architects Edward Tuckerman Potter and William Appleton Potter, university president Dr. Eliphalet Nott Potter, and Bishop Henry C. Potter. His father initially served as a professor and later vice president at Union College before assuming the role of Episcopal Bishop of Pennsylvania.
On his mother's side, his grandfather Dr. Eliphalet Nott presided over Union College for more than six decades. His paternal ancestry included early American settlers like patriot Nathan Hale and Episcopal Bishop Horatio Potter of New York.
Career
Potter enrolled at Union College in 1842 and graduated in 1846. He then spent a year tutoring Latin and Greek at the institution. Although he studied law and gained admission to the New York Bar, he chose not to pursue a legal career, instead taking on the roles of Secretary and Treasurer at the well-known Novelty Iron Works. After marrying in 1849, he briefly served as an attaché at the Court of Berlin, Prussia.
In 1859, upon invitation from his father-in-law James Brown, he joined the merchant banking firm Brown Bros. & Co., becoming a partner two years later in 1861. Potter was actively engaged with both Brown Bros. & Co. and its British counterpart, Brown, Shipley & Co., ultimately leading Brown Shipley in London by the time of his death.
Philanthropy and social life
Potter held leadership positions across various charitable organizations. He was a trustee of the Children's Aid Society from 1857 until 1897, presided over the Orthopedic Dispensary between 1878 and 1891, and led the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor from 1878 to 1884. His involvement extended to organizations such as the Niagara Park Association, United States Sanitary Commission, St. Luke's Hospital (1869–1886), St. Johnland (1871–1883), and State Charities Aid (1874–1880). Additionally, he served as a trustee for Union College along with other educational entities.
As a founding member of both the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, Potter was also affiliated with prestigious clubs including the Century Association, New York Yacht Club, Downtown Club, University Club, and the Tuxedo Club.
Personal life
In 1849, Potter wed Mary Louisa Brown (1827–1898), daughter of merchant banker James Brown. Mary’s family ties included her half-brother John Crosby Brown, who was also a partner at Brown Bros. & Co. The couple had nine children, seven of whom survived into adulthood:
- James Brown Potter (1853–1922), who married actress Cora Urquhart in 1877.
- Maria Potter (1855–1939), who became wife to banker John Kennedy Tod.
- Elizabeth Miller Potter (1856–1945), married attorney Clarence Cary.
- Grace Howard Potter (1858–1937), who remained unmarried and bequeathed her estate to nieces.
- Howard Cranston Potter (1864–1896), acted as representative for Milwaukee grain broker Charles James Kershaw in Tacoma, Washington; died under unclear circumstances in San Francisco.
- Bertha Howard Potter (1866–1933), married Robert Shaw Minturn Jr. in 1906.
- Ashton Howard Potter (1870–1914), known as "Wyoming cattle king," married Mary Louise McNutt; later wed Grace Goodyear, formerly married to Ganson Depew.
Potter passed away in London on March 24, 1897. His testament bequeathed all assets to his wife while specifically excluding daughter-in-law Cora Urquhart Brown-Potter and any offspring born to her after January 1, 1880. Executors named were his wife, eldest son James, along with sons-in-law John Kennedy Tod and Clarence Cary. His widow died in 1898 at their Park Avenue home in New York City.
Descendants
His lineage continued through his son Howard Cranston Potter, making him the grandfather of Bertha Marie Potter Paschall Boeing (1891–1977). She was married to aviation trailblazer William Boeing and was the mother of William E. Boeing Jr. (1922–2015).