About Henry Potter
Lived 1766 – 1857 (aged 91). Henry Potter was an American lawyer and judge.
Henry Potter (January 5, 1766 – December 20, 1857) was an American lawyer and jurist who was the longest-serving United States federal judge in United States history. Appointed by President Thomas Jefferson in 1801, he served as a federal judge for 56 years until his death in 1857 at age 91. Potter initially was a judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Fifth Circuit before becoming a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Albemarle, Cape Fear and Pamptico Districts of North Carolina.
Education and career
Born on January 5, 1766, in Mecklenburg County, Colony of Virginia, British America, Potter read law circa 1790. Potter married Sylvania Williams in 1799.
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Important facts
People in Henry Potter's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
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Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Henry Potter's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Henry Potter?
American judge (1766–1857)
When was Henry Potter born?
Henry Potter was born on 5 January 1766 in Mecklenburg County.
When did Henry Potter die?
Henry Potter died on 20 December 1857 in Fayetteville.
What was Henry Potter's occupation?
Henry Potter was a lawyer and judge.
What nationality was Henry Potter?
Henry Potter was American.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Henry Potter (judge)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Henry Potter. https://biography.guide/henry-potter-lawyer/
MLA: "Henry Potter." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/henry-potter-lawyer/.
Chicago: "Henry Potter." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/henry-potter-lawyer/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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