Author talk:Albert Thomas Potter

Albert Thomas Potter?

Albert Thomas Potter is mentioned on this site : https://timespanner.blogspot.com/2010/08/life-and-times-of-albert-potter-c1820.html which although it is blog, contains several sources

"Albert Thomas Potter (1859/1860-1931) (Tasmanian Archives database) Possibly Albert Thomas Potter who died in 1931, an orchardist in the Whau Valley near Whangarei since the late 1880s. He apparently reared introduced insects to fight orchard and horticultural pests, including Cryptolaemus Montrouzieri, the mealy bug ladybird. (Northern Advocate, 19 March 1898) He was a member of the Lodge Star of the North masonic order. (Northern Advocate, 16 April 1898) He may well have had a partnership in the shipping and butchery firm of Potter & Co, perhaps with Ebenezer. He retired from this in July 1898. (Northern Advocate, 9 July 1898) He was appointed Government Entomologist in August 1898. (Northern Advocate, 6 August 1898) By 1906, he was operating the Kia Ora Fruit Depot & Orchard. (Northern Advocate, 8 January 1906)

He married Rosanna Georgina Bevege in 1881. His children's names are of interest. Before 1898, his children had these ordinary names when born: Alfred James (1881), Alberta Annie (1884), William Albert (1886), Selina Clara Ann (b. 1892), Walter Percival (b.1894), and Geoffrey (b.1895). However, after this, when he got the entomologist's job, things were a little different:

Oreda Natala (b.1898). As "Oreda Notata", this is a NZ weevil. Cecada Muta (b.1901) -- spelled "Cicada", that's what it is, a type of cicada. Veronica Zenlandica/Zealandica (b.1904) -- uncertain, but possibly linked to the koromiko tree (Veronica). Vedalia Cardinalis (b.1906) -- a South Australian ladybird Coccinella (b.1908) -- a North American ladybird

Two of A T Potter's papers are online: Cicadas of New Zealand, and On the Habits of Dermestes vulpinus."

His obituary (NZ Herald, 23 November 1931) reads:

"The death took place of Mr Albert Thomas Potter yesterday at his residence, Whangarei Heads, aged 72 years. Born in Tasmania, deceased came to New Zealand with his parents in 1864. A few years later he went to Fiji, where he studied entomology, and upon his return he was appointed Government entomologist and viticulturalist. Early in his appointment as viticulturalist, Mr Potter had to deal with the first outbreak of phylloxera in Whangarei, which was then a centre for grape culture, and he found it necessary to burn some of the finest vines. Of recent years Mr and Mrs Potter have lived in retirement, in Urquhart's Bay, on the Whangarei Harbour, where Mr Potter devoted himself to landscape gardening, turning a rough piece of ground into a beautiful locality, which has attracted many visitors. He leaves a widow and an adult family of eight."" Noracrentiss (talk) 09:17, 21 March 2023 (UTC)