Richard Potter (businessman): Difference between revisions
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'''[[Richard Potter]]''' (23 July 1817 - 11 January 1892), was a [[Victorian era]] [[English people|English]] [[barrister]] and businessman investor, later chairman of the [[Great Western Railway]]. |
'''[[Richard Potter]]''' (23 July 1817 - 11 January 1892),<ref name=Peerage/> was a [[Victorian era]] [[English people|English]] [[barrister]] and businessman investor, later chairman of the [[Great Western Railway]]. |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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Called to the bar in 1840, Potter founeded a [[timber]] business in Gloucester, which was a major import dock in the [[South West of England]]. His company later moved into manufacturing, making [[prefabricated building|prefabricated]] [[wooden hut]] kits for both [[British Army|British]] and [[French Army|French]] armies troops fighting the [[Crimea War]]. Potter's company later designed a prefabricated hospital, constructed at [[Renkioi]].<ref name=GWOrg/> |
Called to the bar in 1840, Potter founeded a [[timber]] business in Gloucester, which was a major import dock in the [[South West of England]]. His company later moved into manufacturing, making [[prefabricated building|prefabricated]] [[wooden hut]] kits for both [[British Army|British]] and [[French Army|French]] armies troops fighting the [[Crimea War]]. Potter's company later designed a prefabricated hospital, constructed at [[Renkioi]].<ref name=GWOrg/> |
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Potter became the first chairman of the [[Glouster Carriage and Wagon Works]], which in 1849 resulted in him joining the board of the Great Western Board in 1849. An unpopular character, Potter resigned from the GWR board for the first time in 1856.<ref name=GWOrg/> |
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| ⚫ | In 1860 he became an investor and director of the [[West Midland Railway|West Midland Railway (WMR)]]. When the WMR amalgamated with the GWR in 1863, Potter returned to the GWR Board, quickly elected as Chairman. During his period in office he consolidated the GWR stocks, and introduced a [[superannuation fund]] for the entire workforce. Potter resigned for a second time in 1865 because the work was preventing attention to his private affairs.<ref name=GWOrg>{{cite web|url=http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/m_in_gwr_chairmen.htm|title=Chairman of the GWR|publisher=greatwestern.org.uk|accessdate=2012-02-13}}</ref> |
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Called to the Bar in 1840.8 He lived in 1851 at Hempstead, Gloucestershire, England.7,8 He lived in 1861 at Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire, England.4,8 He was Type: Arrival in 1869 at Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A..8 He lived in 1871 at Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England.6,8 He was Type: Arrival in 1874 at New York, U.S.A..8 He lived in 1881 at Ashton in Makerfield, Lancashire, England.5,8 He lived at Argoed, Monmouthshire, Wales.9 He lived at Rusland Hall, Gloucestershire, England. He lived in 1891 at Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England.3,8 He lived at Standish House, Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire, England.9 |
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In 1869, as part of his investment in the [[Grad Trunk Railway]] and its recovery after the [[American Civil War]], he lived in [[Boston, Massachusetts]]. He also lived in [[New York]] for a period in 1874.<ref name=Peerage/> |
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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Potter married Lawrencina Heyworth, daughter of Lawrence Heyworth and Elizabeth Aked, on 13 August 1844 at St. Mary the Virgin church in [[West Derby]], [[Lancashire]].<ref name=Peerage>{{cite web|url=http://thepeerage.com/p5379.htm|title=Richard Potter|publisher=ThePeerage.com|accessdate=2012-02-16}}</ref> The couple had eleven children: |
Potter married Lawrencina Heyworth, daughter of Liverpool merchant Lawrence Heyworth and his wife Elizabeth (nee Aked), on 13 August 1844 at St. Mary the Virgin church in [[West Derby]], [[Lancashire]].<ref name=Peerage>{{cite web|url=http://thepeerage.com/p5379.htm|title=Richard Potter|publisher=ThePeerage.com|accessdate=2012-02-16}}</ref> The couple had eleven children: Lawrencina (1845 - 1906); Catharine (1847 - 1929); Mary Elizabeth (1849 - 1923); Georgina (1850 - 1914); Blanche (1851 - 1905); Theresa (1852 - 18930; Margaret (1854 - 1921); [[Beatrice Webb|Martha Beatrice]] (1858 - 1943); Richard (1862 - 1864); Rosalind (1865 - 1949).<ref name=Peerage/> |
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Their most famous child was [[Beatrice Webb|Martha Beatrice Webb, Lady Passfield]], a prominent social reformer and wife of fellow reformer [[Sidney Webb|Sidney Webb, Baron Passfield]] (1859-1947).<ref name=Peerage/> |
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==Standish House== |
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{{main|Standish Hospital}} |
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The family initially lived at [[Hempstead]], [[Gloucestershire]]. From 1853, Potter leased [[Standish Hospital|Standish House]] and the surrounding {{convert|30|acre}} of grounds, located in [[Standish, Gloucestershire]], from [[James Dutton, 3rd Baron Sherborne]]. The Potter family moved into the house, and the couple's later three daughters and their son were born there.<ref name=Peerage/><ref name=SHG/> |
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Potter developed the gardens along managed [[Victorian era]] principles, building extensive heated [[greenhouse]]s to allow the family to eat well. It eventually provided a ready supply of [[grapes]], plus a dedicated [[mushroom]] house and [[watercress]] beds. A drilled spring provided a steady year round stream, which was landscaped to provide a pond by construction of a brickwall dam. Beneath the dam there was an ice store, allowing year roud supplies of ice.<ref name=SHG/> |
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==Death== |
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In 1882, Lawrencina died and the remaining family members moved out of Standish House. Richard moving to Box House in [[Minchinhampton]], where he died on the 1 January 1892.<ref name=SHG>{{cite web|url=http://www.stonehousehistorygroup.org.uk/page54.html|title=Stadish House|publisher=Stonehouse History Group|accessdate=2012-02-05}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 22:57, 16 February 2012
Richard Potter (23 July 1817 - 11 January 1892),[1] was a Victorian era English barrister and businessman investor, later chairman of the Great Western Railway.
Background
Potter was the son of radical non-conformist Liberal Party MP for Wigan, and founding member of the Little Circle, Richard Potter Snr. His uncle was Thomas Potter, the first Lord Mayor of Manchester. His father and uncle were successful businessmen, and investors in John Edward Taylor's new Manchester Guardian newspaper.[2][3][4] Their second formation of the Little Circle resulted in pressure being brought to eventually pass the Reform Act 1832.[5]
Early life
Richard Potter was born on 23 July 1817 in Ashton under Lyne, Lancashire, the son of Richard Potter and Mary Seddon. Brought up a Unitarian, his father held the seat of Wigan until 1839, replaced by the Radical party's William Ewart. He then moved the family to Gloucester, where he unsuccessfully lost the contest to represent the constituency to Maurice Berkeley, 1st Baron FitzHardinge. Richard Potter Snr died in July, 1842.
Business career
Called to the bar in 1840, Potter founeded a timber business in Gloucester, which was a major import dock in the South West of England. His company later moved into manufacturing, making prefabricated wooden hut kits for both British and French armies troops fighting the Crimea War. Potter's company later designed a prefabricated hospital, constructed at Renkioi.[6]
Railways
Potter became the first chairman of the Glouster Carriage and Wagon Works, which in 1849 resulted in him joining the board of the Great Western Board in 1849. An unpopular character, Potter resigned from the GWR board for the first time in 1856.[6]
In 1860 he became an investor and director of the West Midland Railway (WMR). When the WMR amalgamated with the GWR in 1863, Potter returned to the GWR Board, quickly elected as Chairman. During his period in office he consolidated the GWR stocks, and introduced a superannuation fund for the entire workforce. Potter resigned for a second time in 1865 because the work was preventing attention to his private affairs.[6]
In 1869, as part of his investment in the Grad Trunk Railway and its recovery after the American Civil War, he lived in Boston, Massachusetts. He also lived in New York for a period in 1874.[1]
Personal life
Potter married Lawrencina Heyworth, daughter of Liverpool merchant Lawrence Heyworth and his wife Elizabeth (nee Aked), on 13 August 1844 at St. Mary the Virgin church in West Derby, Lancashire.[1] The couple had eleven children: Lawrencina (1845 - 1906); Catharine (1847 - 1929); Mary Elizabeth (1849 - 1923); Georgina (1850 - 1914); Blanche (1851 - 1905); Theresa (1852 - 18930; Margaret (1854 - 1921); Martha Beatrice (1858 - 1943); Richard (1862 - 1864); Rosalind (1865 - 1949).[1]
Their most famous child was Martha Beatrice Webb, Lady Passfield, a prominent social reformer and wife of fellow reformer Sidney Webb, Baron Passfield (1859-1947).[1]
Standish House
The family initially lived at Hempstead, Gloucestershire. From 1853, Potter leased Standish House and the surrounding 30 acres (12 ha) of grounds, located in Standish, Gloucestershire, from James Dutton, 3rd Baron Sherborne. The Potter family moved into the house, and the couple's later three daughters and their son were born there.[1][7]
Potter developed the gardens along managed Victorian era principles, building extensive heated greenhouses to allow the family to eat well. It eventually provided a ready supply of grapes, plus a dedicated mushroom house and watercress beds. A drilled spring provided a steady year round stream, which was landscaped to provide a pond by construction of a brickwall dam. Beneath the dam there was an ice store, allowing year roud supplies of ice.[7]
Death
In 1882, Lawrencina died and the remaining family members moved out of Standish House. Richard moving to Box House in Minchinhampton, where he died on the 1 January 1892.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Richard Potter". ThePeerage.com. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
- ^ Peter Shapely (2004). "Brotherton, Joseph (1783–1857)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
- ^ "Richard Potter". archiveshub.ac.uk. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ^ Stanley Harrison (31 Oct 1974). Poor Men's Guardians: Survey of the Democratic and Working-class Press. Lawrence & W; 1st Edition edition. ISBN 0853153086.
- ^ "Before the Welfare State". Cross Street Chapel. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ^ a b c "Chairman of the GWR". greatwestern.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ^ a b c "Stadish House". Stonehouse History Group. Retrieved 2012-02-05.