Thomas Potter 1718?-1759

Thomas POTTER 1718?-1759

Biographical Note

Born at Cuddesdon, Oxfordshire, second son of John Potter, Bishop of Oxford (and later Archbishop of Canterbury). In 1747 he inherited great wealth and estates from his father, who disinherited his elder brother. BA Christ Church, Oxford 1735, MA 1738; he was admitted at the Middle Temple in 1735 (barrister, 1740). He became register to the province of Canterbury and entered politics as MP for St Germans in 1747, and was secrteray to the Prince of Wales 1748-51. He went on to be MP for Aylesbury 1754-57. He was much involved in political and court intrigue but is best remembered as a rake, and an active member of the Medmenham Monks, established by Sir Francis Dashwood and including John Wilkes, whose financial ruin is partly attributed to Potter.

Books

Potter used an engraved armorial bookplate, dated 1745, in which he described himself as "of the Middle Temple"; the extent and disposition of his library are not known.

Sources

• Eagles, R. D. E. "Potter, Thomas (1718?–1759), wit and politician." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
• Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903-4.