Potts, Richard, 1753-1808

Richard Potts (July 19, 1753 – November 26, 1808) was an American politician and jurist.

Born in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Potts moved with his family to the Barbados Islands in 1757. He returned to Maryland and settled in the state capital of Annapolis in 1761, where he studied law. He commenced the practice of law in Frederick County, Maryland in 1775. Potts served as a member of the committee of observation for Frederick County in 1776 and as military aide to the Governor of Maryland in 1777. He served as clerk of the Frederick County court from 1777 to 1778, and as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1779 to 1780. Potts served as prosecuting attorney for Frederick, Montgomery, and Washington Counties in 1784. After serving in the House of Delegates for a second time from 1787 to 1788, he was appointed by President George Washington as United States attorney for Maryland, serving in that role from 1789 to 1791. Potts served as chief judge of Maryland's fifth judicial circuit from 1791 to 1793 and as a presidential elector in 1792.

Potts was elected to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Charles Carroll of Carrollton and served from January 10, 1793, to October 24, 1796, when he also resigned. After his resignation, he was again appointed chief judge of Maryland's fifth judicial circuit, serving from 1796 to 1801. Potts then served as an associate justice of the Maryland Court of Appeals from 1801 to 1804. He died in Frederick and was interred in All Saints’ Parish Cemetery there until his reinterment in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Baltimore.