Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Pott, Alfred
POTT, ALFRED (1822–1908), principal of Cuddesdon College, born on 30 Sept. 1822 at Norwood, was the second son of Charles Pott of Norwood, Surrey, and Anna, daughter of C. S. Cox, master in chancery. Educated at Eton under Edward Craven Hawtrey [q. v.], he matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford, on 16 Dec. 1840. Having been elected to a demyship at Magdalen College in 1843, he graduated B.A. in 1844 with a second class in literæ humaniores, and next year he won the Johnson theological scholarship. He proceeded M.A. in 1847, and B.D. in 1854. He was ordained deacon in 1845 and priest in the following year. He became curate of Cuddesdon, and in 1851 vicar on the nomination of Bishop Samuel Wilberforce [q. v.]. In 1853 he was elected a fellow of Magdalen College ; and in 1854 he was appointed first principal of the new theological college at Cuddesdon. Here he laid down the lines upon which the college was subsequently carried on. But he was somewhat overshadowed by his vice-principal, Henry Parry Liddon [q. v.], and he resigned owing to ill-health shortly after Charles Pourtales Golightly [q. v.] had called attention to the extreme high church practices of the Cuddesdon system. In 1858 he accepted the living of East Hendred, Berkshire, becoming vicar of Abingdon in 1867. Bishop Wilberforce appointed Pott one of his examining chaplains, made him hon. canon of Christ Church in 1868, and in 1869 preferred him to the archdeaconry of Berkshire. Pott subsequently held the benefices of Clifton-Hampden (1874-82) and of Sonning (1882-99). He resigned the archdeaconry in 1903, but retained his hon. canonry. In convocation Pott was a recognised authority on ecclesiastical law; and as archdeacon he showed wisdom and judgment. Although a high churchman he enjoyed the friendship of men of widely divergent opinions. He died at Windlesham, Surrey, on 28 Feb. 1908, and was buried at Chfton-Hampden. In 1855 he married Emily Harriet (d. 1903), daughter of Joseph Gibbs, vicar of Clifton-Hampden.
Besides sermons and charges, Pott published: 1. 'Confirmation Lectures delivered to a Village Congregation,' 1852; 5th edit. 1886. 2. 'Village Lectures on the Sacraments and Occasional Services of the Church,' 1854.
[The Times, 29 Feb. 1908; Guardian, 4 March 1908; Life of Samuel Wilberforce, 1883, ii. 366, iii. 399; Johnston, Life and Letters of Henry Parry Liddon, 1904, pp. 30 seq.; Cuddesdon College (1854-1904), 1904; Bloxam, Register of St. Mary Magdalen College, Oxford, 1881, vii. 357; Foster, Alumni Oxon. 1888.]