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 et notæ ad Plutarchi librum de audiendis poetis; et ad Basilii magni orationem ad juvenes, quomodo cum fructu legere possint Græcorum libros, 8vo, 1693. In 1697, came out his edition of Lycophron, in folio; which is reckoned the best of that obscure writer: soon after, he published his antiquities of Greece, 2 vols. 8vo. These works established his literary reputation, and engaged him in a correspondence with Grevius 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 but too strongly tinctured with the pride of office; nor is it to his credit that he disinherited his eldest son for marrying below his rank in life. His "Theological works, containing sermons, charges, discourses on church-government, and divinity lectures," were printed at Oxford, in 3 vols. 8vo, 1753.