John F. Potter
Encyclopedia
John Fox Potter nicknamed "Bowie Knife Potter" (May 11, 1817 – May 18, 1899) was a nineteenth century politician, lawyer and judge from Wisconsin
.
, Potter attended common schools and Phillips Exeter Academy
. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1837, commencing practice in East Troy, Wisconsin
. He served as a judge in Walworth County, Wisconsin
from 1842 to 1846, was a delegate to the Whig
National Convention in 1852
and 1856
, was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
in 1856 and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
in 1860 and 1864.
to the United States House of Representatives
in 1856. He served in the 35th through the 37th Congresses from 1857 to 1863; there, he served as chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions
from 1859 to 1861 and of the Committee on Public Lands from 1861 to 1863. In this latter role, his committee handled the Homestead Act of 1862.
Potter was defeated in his race for reelection in 1862. After leaving office in early 1863, the Lincoln administration
appointed him to be Consul General
of the United States in the British-controlled Province of Canada
from 1863 to 1866, residing in what was then the Canadian capital of Montreal, Canada
.
In 1866, Potter returned to East Troy, Wisconsin
, where he practiced law until his death there on May 18, 1899. He was interred in Oak Ridge Cemetery in East Troy.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
Biography
Born in Augusta, MaineAugusta, Maine
Augusta is the capital of the US state of Maine, county seat of Kennebec County, and center of population for Maine. The city's population was 19,136 at the 2010 census, making it the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota...
, Potter attended common schools and Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy is a private secondary school located in Exeter, New Hampshire, in the United States.Exeter is noted for its application of Harkness education, a system based on a conference format of teacher and student interaction, similar to the Socratic method of learning through asking...
. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1837, commencing practice in East Troy, Wisconsin
East Troy (town), Wisconsin
East Troy is a town in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,830 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 32.1 square miles , of which, 30.3 square miles of it is land and 1.8 square miles of...
. He served as a judge in Walworth County, Wisconsin
Walworth County, Wisconsin
Walworth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 102,228. Its county seat is Elkhorn.-Geography:According to the U.S...
from 1842 to 1846, was a delegate to the Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
National Convention in 1852
1852 Whig National Convention
The 1852 Whig National Convention was a quadrennial United States presidential nominating convention of the Whig Party. The convention adopted the party's national platform and nominated General Winfield Scott as its candidate for President of the United States and Secretary of the Navy William A....
and 1856
1856 Whig National Convention
The 1856 Whig National Convention was a quadrennial presidential nomination convention of the Whig Party. The convention was held in Baltimore, Maryland on September 17 and September 18, 1856. Former President Millard Fillmore was nominated as the party's candidate for president, four year after a...
, was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in 1856 and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
1860 Republican National Convention
The 1860 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States, held in Chicago, Illinois at the Wigwam, nominated former U.S. Representative Abraham Lincoln of Illinois for President and U.S. Senator Hannibal Hamlin of Maine for Vice President...
in 1860 and 1864.
Member of Congress
Potter was elected a RepublicanRepublican 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...
to the United States 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 1856. He served in the 35th through the 37th Congresses from 1857 to 1863; there, he served as chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions
United States House Committee on Revolutionary Pensions
The United States House Committee on Revolutionary Pensions was a U.S. House committee, established on January 10, 1831, that superseded the defunct Committee on Military Pensions to assume jurisdiction over issues related to pensions for service in the American Revolutionary War.In 1867, the...
from 1859 to 1861 and of the Committee on Public Lands from 1861 to 1863. In this latter role, his committee handled the Homestead Act of 1862.
Potter was defeated in his race for reelection in 1862. After leaving office in early 1863, the Lincoln administration
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
appointed him to be Consul General
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
of the United States in the British-controlled Province of Canada
Province of Canada
The Province of Canada, United Province of Canada, or the United Canadas was a British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham in the Report on the Affairs of British North America following the Rebellions of...
from 1863 to 1866, residing in what was then the Canadian capital of Montreal, Canada
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
In 1866, Potter returned to East Troy, Wisconsin
East Troy (town), Wisconsin
East Troy is a town in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,830 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 32.1 square miles , of which, 30.3 square miles of it is land and 1.8 square miles of...
, where he practiced law until his death there on May 18, 1899. He was interred in Oak Ridge Cemetery in East Troy.
External links
- John F. Potter at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
- The Monster Knife of John Fox Potter