Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Pott, Joseph Holden
POTT, JOSEPH HOLDEN (1759–1847), archdeacon of London, was son of Percivall Pott [q. v.], the surgeon. He was born in 1759, in his father's house near St. Bartholomew's Hospital, was educated at Eton, and thence sent at an early age to St. John's College, Cambridge. He graduated B.A. in 1780, and proceeded M.A. in 1783. At Eton he had dabbled in verse, and up to 1786 four separate works, in verse and prose, appeared from his pen. Taking holy orders, he was collated by Bishop Thurlow, formerly dean of St. Paul's, to the prebend of Welton-Brinkhall in Lincoln Cathedral, 17 March 1785 (Le Neve, ii. 230). In 1787 he became rector of St. Olave, Old Jewry, and St. Martin, Ironmonger Lane. He was appointed archdeacon of St. Albans on 8 Jan. 1789.
In 1797 he exchanged his London rectory for the living of Little Burstead, Essex, which he left for the vicarage of Northolt or Northall, Middlesex, on 24 Feb. 1806. He next became vicar of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London, 12 Dec. 1812, and exchanged the archdeaconry of St. Albans for that of London, 31 Dec. 1813. In 1822 (4 Oct.) he received a canonry in St. Paul's Cathedral, and on 13 July 1824 exchanged the vicarage of St. Martin's for that of Kensington. Finally he became canon and chancellor of Exeter, 2 May 1826. Resigning his archdeaconry and his vicarage in 1842, he held both canonries until his death, which took place on 16 Feb. 1847, at his residence in Woburn Place, Bloomsbury, London. He died unmarried, leaving considerable personalty and a valuable library, which was sold by auction in May 1847.
Pott assisted Nichols to some extent in the production of the ‘Literary Anecdotes,’ and he is mentioned with approval by Mathias in the ‘Pursuits of Literature’ in the phrase ‘as Gisborne serious, and as Pott devout.’ He was generally popular and respected. His portrait was painted by William Owen, R.A., and an engraving from it published in 1843.
His principal works, besides sermons, controversial tracts, and archidiaconal charges, of which he delivered twenty-six, were:
- ‘Poems,’ 1779, 8vo.
- ‘Elegies, and Seimane, a Tragedy,’ 1782, 8vo.
- ‘Essay on Landscape-painting, with Remarks on the different Schools,’ 1783, 8vo.
- ‘The Tour of Valentine,’ 1786, 8vo.
- ‘Testimonies of St. Paul concerning Justification,’ 1846, 8vo.
[Nichols's Literary Anecdotes, vii. p. 425, ix. pp. v, 73; Gent. Mag. 1847 pt. ii. pp. 210–11; Romilly's Grad. Cantabr. p. 306; Le Neve's Fasti; Foster's Index Ecclesiasticus; Life of Percival Pott in Works, ed. Sir J. Earle; Allibone's Dict. of Engl. Lit.; Lowndes's Bibl. Man.]