POTTER, JOHN, Archbishop of Canterbury, was the son of a linen-draper at Wakefield in Yorkshire, and was born about 1674. Having attained to great proficiency in Greek while at school, he entered University College, Oxford, at the age of fourteen. He was induced to publish, at the suggestion of the master of his college, Variantes Lectiones et Notæ ad Plutarchi librum de Audiendis Poësis cum Interpretatione Latina Hugonis Grotii; item Variantes Lectiones et Notæ ad Basilii Magni Orationem ad Juvenes quomodo cum fructu legere possint Græcorum libros, 1693, 8vo., when only in his nineteenth year. He shortly after became master of arts, was chosen a fellow of Lincoln College, and took orders. In 1697 he edited the Alexandra of Lycophron; and his Archæologia Græca appearing soon after, at once established his fame as a scholar. He became bachelor of divinity in July 8, 1704, and was appointed chaplain to Archbishop Tenison, when he required to exchange Oxford for Lambeth. He became doctor of divinity in 1706, and soon after was made chaplain in ordinary to her Majesty Queen Anne. He published during the following year A Discourse of Church Government. In 1708 he was chosen regius professor of divinity, and canon of Christ Church, Oxford; and in 1715 he was made bishop of Oxford. An edition of Clemens Alexandrinus occupied his attention during the same year; and shortly afterwards he deemed it necessary to publish against
the doctrines of sincerity as advocated by Hoadly, Bishop of Bangor. In January 1736-7 he was raised to be Archbishop of Canterbury. This arduous and important office he filled during ten years with considerable reputation, until in 1747 he was cut off by a lingering disease. He was a learned and exemplary churchman, but somewhat too strongly tinctured with the pride of office. His theological works were printed at Oxford in 3 vols. 8vo., 1753.