Eliza Orme

“ In 1846 Potter married Mary, daughter of Samuel Ashton of Gee Cross, Hyde. They had four sons and one daughter, of whom, the third and fourth sons, Arthur and Richard, and the daughter Edith survive their father. Mrs. Potter died at Cannes in 1885, and Potter, in 1887, married Helena, daughter of John Hicks of Bodmin, who survives him.
Potter was popular in the House of Commons with men of all parties. ”

“ Besides several prizes he gained the Ferguson scholarship in mental philosophy, and the Murray scholarship awarded by the univer- sity after a competitive examination in all the subjects of the arts curriculum. With this successful record he was encouraged to read for the bar, and entered the Middle Temple in 1865. After taking numerous exhibitions awarded by the council of legal education, and passing his examinations with first-class honours, he was called to the English bar in 1867, and joined the south-eastern circuit. ”

“ After some unsuccessful attempts to enter parliament in the radical interest, Plimsoll was returned for Derby in 1868, and from the first devoted himself to the question of mercantile shipping. In 1870 he opened his campaign by proposing a resolution condemning unnecessary loss of life and property at sea, and insisting upon the compulsory load-line as the reform to be advocated. ”

“ Under the head of 'contracts' some important criticisms of Maine's theory of the origin of Stipulatio are given, and under 'ownership ' a new theory respecting bona fide Possessio is put forward entirely opposed to that of Savigny. ”

“ In 1890 he published a pamphlet on cattle ships, and in the same year became president of the Sailors' and Firemen's Union. He held this post for several years under the distinct understanding that his duty should be limited to presiding at the annual congress and advising as to parliamentary action. ”