POTTER (Dr John), archbishop of Canterbury, was
the son of a linen-draper at Wakefield in Yorkshire,
where he was born about the year 1674. He studied
at University college, Oxford; and at 19 published
Variantes lectiones & notæ ad Plutarchi librum de au-
diendis poetis; & ad Basiliæ magni orationem ad juve-
nes, quomodo cum fructu legere possint Græcorum libror,
8vo. 1693. In 1697, came out his edition of Lycop-
hron, in folio; which is reckoned the best of that ob-
scure writer: soon after, he published his Antiquities
of Greece, 2 vols, 8vo. These works established his lit-
terary reputation, and engaged him in a correspon-
dence with Grænius and other learned foreigners. In
1706, he was made chaplain to the queen; in 1715,
bishop of Oxford; and in 1737, he succeeded archbishop
Wake in the see of Canterbury; which high station he
supported with much dignity until his death in 1747.
He was a learned and exemplary churchman; but not
of an amiable disposition, being strongly tinctured
with that sort of pride which usually accompanies ri-
gid orthodoxy; nor is it to his credit that he disin-
herited his eldest son for marrying below his rank in
life. His "Theological works, containing sermons,
charges, discourses on church-government, and di-
vinity lectures," were printed at Oxford, in 3 vols,
8vo. 1753.