Frederic Augustus Potts (April 4, 1836 – November 9, 1888) was an American businessman and Republican party politician who was the Republican nominee for

Governor of New Jersey The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The ...

in 1880. Potts was born in 1836 in

Pottsville, Pennsylvania Pottsville is a city and the county seat of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 13,346 at the 2020 census, and is the principal city of the Pottsville, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area. The city lies along the wes ...

to George Alexander Henry and Emily Dilworth (Gumming) Potts. His father was the head of the New York branch of the wholesale coal and iron firm of Lewis Audenried & Company. Potts followed in his father's footsteps, working in the coal and iron business in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. He controlled an extensive business as a

coal merchant A coal merchant is the term used in the UK and other countries for a trader who sells coal and often delivers it to households. Coal merchants were once a major class of local business, but have declined in importance in many parts of the developed ...

. Potts had a farm in Pittstown,

Hunterdon County, New Jersey Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. At the 2020 census, the county was the state's 4th-least populous county,House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...

New Jersey's 4th congressional district New Jersey's 4th congressional district is a congressional district that stretches along the Jersey Shore. It has been represented by Republican Party (United States), Republican Chris Smith (New Jersey politician), Chris Smith since 1981, the s ...

. He was defeated, although by a narrower than usual margin in a district that was known as "the Democratic Gibraltar." He was elected to the

New Jersey Senate The New Jersey Senate is the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. There are 40 legislative districts, representing districts with an average population of 232,225 (2020 figure ...

in 1873 as a Republican, breaking a long succession of Democratic victories in the Hunterdon County stretching "since the days of the Jackson." He ran for the House of Representatives seat again in 1878 and lost by only 620 votes.Obituary
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', November 10, 1888. Accessed June 17, 2008. In 1880 he was the Republican nominee for

and was defeated by the Democratic nominee,

George C. Ludlow George Craig Ludlow (April 6, 1830 – December 18, 1900) was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 25th governor of New Jersey from 1881 to 1884. Early life George Craig Ludlow was born in Milford, New Jersey, on April 6, ...

, by a margin of 651 votes of some 250,000 ballots cast.Biography of George C. Ludlow

New Jersey State Library The New Jersey State Library, based in Trenton, New Jersey, was established in 1796 to serve the information needs of New Jersey's Governor of New Jersey, Governor, New Jersey Legislature, Legislature and Judiciary of New Jersey, Judiciary. The S ...

. Prior to 1880, Potts was a director of the

Central Railroad of New Jersey Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...

. In 1880 he reorganized the New Jersey Midland Railroad, which merged with other railroads to form the

New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway , also referred to as the Susie-Q or the Susquehanna, and formerly the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad, is an American Railroad classes#Class II, Class II Rail freight transport, freight r ...

. He was elected president of the railway and remained in this position until his death. He died in 1888 at his family residence in New York at the age of 52.

Bibliography

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Potts, Frederic A. 1836 births 1888 deaths Republican Party New Jersey state senators Politicians from Pottsville, Pennsylvania Politicians from Hunterdon County, New Jersey 19th-century American businesspeople 19th-century members of the New Jersey Legislature