Jefferson Medical College - Clinic Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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This book is respectfully dedicated to Hon. William Potter, President ofthe Board of Trustees of jefferson Medi- cal College and Hospital.

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Drcsibcnt Dotter ll.l.l1XlVl POT'l'lfR, President ofjefferson Medical College, was born in Philadelphia, April l7lIl'l, 1852: is a son of the late Thomas Potter, an eminent citizen of Philadelphia, and of the late Adaline Coleman Potter, whose grandfather General jacob Bower of Reading, and great-grandfather, Colonel joseph VVood of Philadelphia, served as officers in the Continental Line Llllflllg' the entire Revolution- ary XVar, General Ilower being an original member of the Pennsyl- vania Society of the Cincinnati. lVlr. Potter was educated in private schools in Philadelphia and matriculated at the University of Pennsylvania lclass of 18741 but ow- ing to the serious illness of his father, was obliged to leave before being graduated, in order to accompany his parent to liurope. Mr. Potter became a partner in Thomas Potter, Sons X Co., Incorporated, and continued therein as Vice-President for eighteen years, until in 1892 when he entered the services ofthe National Government. In ISQO, Mr. Potter was appointed Special Commissioner to visit London, Paris and Berlin and negotiate the present system of sea- post-offices. The success of this effort led to his appointment as Dele- gate tothe Fourth Congress of the Universal Postal Union, held at Vienna in 1891. lVlr. Potter and His Colleague, Captain Brooks, isu- perintendent of Foreign Nlailsl were given pleni-potentiary power, under which they arranged and signed for their Government a new treaty. This instrument, which went into effect October Ist, 1892, was among the important achievements of President Harrison's administration. At this Postal Congress, it was unanimously decided to hold the fifth congress at NVashington in june, 1897. In 1892, President Harrison appointed Mr. Potter lVlinister to Italy, which important post he filled 11ntil April, 1894. On his return to the United States, lVlr. Potter, in recognition of his patriotic services to his country, whilst abroad, was elected an I -Ionorary lVleniber of the Society of the Cincinnati of the State of New jersey, at its meeting T I.