Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Potter, William
POTTER, WILLIAM (fl. 1656), writer on banks, was appointed in 1656 registrar of debentures on ‘the act for the sale of the late king's lands’ (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1656–7, cxxix. 11). One of the earliest writers on paper currency, he recommended the issue, by means of a land bank, of bills payable at sight to the bearer, under a guarantee of land mortgages. He gave an account of his scheme in ‘The Key of Wealth, or a New Way for improving of Trade,’ London, 1650, fol. It was remodelled and republished, with additions, with the title ‘The Trades-man's Jewel, or a Safe, Easie, Speedy, and Effectual Means for the Incredible Advancement of Trade … by making … Bills to become current instead of Money,’ &c., London, 1650, 4to. He also drew up, for presentation to the Council for Trade, ‘Humble Proposalls … shewing what Particulars, if enacted by Parliament, would … conduce to Advance Trade,’ &c., London, 1651, 4to. His scheme was criticised in ‘An Essay upon … W. Potter's Designe concerning a Bank of Lands to be erected throughout this Commonwealth,’ &c., London [1651?], 4to; reprinted in ‘A Discoverie for division or setting out of Lande, &c., by Samuel Hartlib,’ London, 1653, 4to.
[McCulloch's Literature of Political Economy, p. 159; Cossa's Introduction to the Study of Political Economy, transl. by Dyer, pp. 185, 186.]