Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Potter, Thomas Joseph
POTTER, THOMAS JOSEPH (1828–1873), catholic story-writer and professor, born on 9 June 1828 at Scarborough, Yorkshire, was son of George Potter, by his wife Amelia Hunt. His parents intended him to take orders in the church of England, but, on 24 Feb. 1847, he was received into the catholic church at Stockeld Park, Bewerley, Yorkshire, and joined Stonyhurst College. On 24 Oct. 1854 he entered All Hallows' College, Dublin, and was ordained a priest on 28 June 1857. He was appointed director of All Hallows' College, and professor of sacred eloquence, and died there on 31 Aug. 1873.
His works, chiefly passable religious poems or romances, are: 1. ‘The Two Victories,’ Dublin, 8vo, 1860. 2. ‘The Rector's Daughter,’ London, 1861, 16mo. 3. ‘Legends, Lyrics, and Hymns,’ Dublin, 1862. 4. ‘Light and Shade,’ 8vo, 1864. 5. ‘Panegyric of St. Patrick,’ 8vo, 1864. 6. ‘Sir Humphrey's Trial, or the Lesson of Life,’ a book of tales, legends, and sketches in prose and verse, 8vo, 4th edit. Dublin, 1884. 7. ‘The Pastor and his People, or the Word of God and the Flock of Israel,’ Dublin, 8vo, 1869. 8. ‘The Spoken Word, or the Art of Extempore Preaching,’ 12mo, 1872. 9. ‘Rupert Aubrey of Aubrey Chase,’ an historical tale of 1681, 2nd edit. 12mo, 1879. 10. ‘Percy Grange, or the Dream of Life,’ a tale in three books, 12mo, 1876; new edit. 1883.
[Allibone's Dict. of Engl. Lit. and Suppl.; Brit. Mus. Cat.; information kindly supplied by Henry Bedford, M.A., All Hallows' College, Dublin.]