Legislative Reference Library | Legislators and Leaders

Mark Milton Potter
Full Name: Mark Milton Potter
Date of birth: May 2, 1819
Date of death: October 18, 1863

Terms of Service
Biographical Notes
Committee Information

Terms of Service top

Chamber District Dates of Service Legislatures Party City/County Note Counties in District

H 34 Nov 4, 1861 - Oct 18, 1863 9th ⁽¹⁾ Galveston / Galveston Galveston

S 17 Nov 7, 1859 - Nov 4, 1861 8th ⁽²⁾ Galveston / Galveston Galveston

S 17 Nov 2, 1857 - Nov 7, 1859 7th ⁽³⁾ ⁽⁴⁾ ⁽⁵⁾ Galveston / Galveston Galveston

S 17 Nov 8, 1853 - Nov 2, 1857 6th ⁽⁶⁾ ⁽⁷⁾ 5th ⁽⁸⁾ ⁽⁹⁾ ⁽¹⁰⁾ Galveston / Galveston Galveston

S 18 Jan 12, 1853 - Nov 7, 1853 4th ⁽¹¹⁾ ⁽¹²⁾ ⁽¹³⁾ Galveston / Galveston Brazoria, Galveston

H Galveston Dec 13, 1847 - Nov 5, 1849 2nd ⁽¹⁴⁾ Galveston / Galveston Galveston

(1) Potter died 10/18/1863. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(2) 8th Legislature - Not present at the organization of the Senate. First mentioned in appointments to Senate committees, 11/9/1859, p. 10. Senate Journal.
(3) Listed in "New Senators elected: Democrats." Civilian and Gazette Weekly, 9/8/1857, p. 2, crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
(4) 7th Legislature - 11/2/1857, p. 1. Included in "roll of Senators elected since the last adjournment, being called by Districts, the following Senators appeared, presented their credentials, and being qualified took their seats." Senate Journal.
(5) 7th Legislature - listed in "large cadre of returning senators," p. 276. The Texas Senate: Volume I, Republic to Civil War, 1836-1861, 1990.
(6) 6th Legislature - 11/5/1855, p. 4. Holdover Senator, listed in "The roll of Senators then being called, the following Senators answered to their names. . ." Senate Journal.
(7) 6th Legislature - Listed in the "19 members of the Senate [who] retained their seats from the 5th Legislature," p. 258. The Texas Senate: Volume I, Republic to Civil War, 1836-1861, 1990.
(8) 5th Legislature - 11/8/1853, p. 6. Senators elect M.M. Potter, Isaac L. Hill, William T. Scott, and James H. Durst "came forward, presented their credentials, were qualified and took their seats." Senate Journal.
(9) Democrat - Listed as delegate to Democratic State Convention in Austin, 1/9/1854. Tri-Weekly State Times, 1/17/1854, p. 1, crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
(10) Roster of members elect of the 5th Legislature, state elections, 1853. Texas State Gazette [Austin, Tex.], 8/20/1853, p. 3, crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
(11) Entire Senate went up for reelection due to Senatorial redistricting. Act passed Feb. 2, 1853, 4th Legislature, 1st C.S., ch. 4, Apportionment Laws of Texas, 1836-1950, 1950.
(12) Mark Potter, sworn 1/12/1853, succeeded Franklin H. Merriman, resigned 8/31/1852. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(13) 4th Legislature, Extra Session - 1/12/1853, p. 5. "On motion of Mr. Wilson, the Hon. M.M. Potter, Senator elect from District No. 18, composed of the counties of Galveston and Brazoria, presented his credentials and took the oath prescribed by the constitution and his seat." Senate Journal.
(14) Roster of members of the 2nd Legislature, Texas Democrat, 12/15/1847, p. 2, crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).

Biographical Notes and Resources top

Biographical Sketches

POTTER, MARK MILTON (1819-1863). Handbook of Texas Online.

Other Resources

Mark Milton Potter, born 5/2/1819, died 10/10[?]/1863, grave marker photos, interment in Old City Cemetery, Galveston. Find a Grave.

Obituary, Hon. M.M. Potter, 10/28/1863, p. 1. "We noticed in our edition of yesterday morning the death of Hon. M.M. Potter, of Galveston. . .," Potter died "Sunday morning the 18th instant" (10/18/1863). Galveston Weekly News.

Mentioned in Ralph A. Wooster, "Membership in the Early Texas Legislatures, 1850-1860," October 1965, pp. 163-173. Southwestern Historical Quarterly.

Biographical note, p. 244 - attorney, born in Connecticut. The Texas Senate: Volume I, Republic to Civil War, 1836-1861, 1990.

Photographs

Photograph. Mark Milton Potter, 8th Legislature, Texas Album of the Eighth Legislature

Committee Informationtop

9th R.S. - 1861
Comptroller's and Treasurer's Office, Examine
Finance
Judiciary (Chair)

8th R.S. - 1859
Apportionment
Claims and Accounts
Convention to Frame a New State Constitution
Federal Relations
Finance
Internal Improvements
Judiciary (Chair)
Public Debt
Public Lands
State Affairs

7th R.S. - 1857
Judiciary (Chair)
Message of the Governor on Kansas Affairs
Public Lands
State Affairs

6th R.S. - 1855
Claims and Accounts
Constitutional Amendments, Select
Judicial Districts, Select
Judiciary (Chair)
Protection of Western Frontier, Select

5th R.S. - 1853
Claims and Accounts
Judicial Districts
Judiciary (Chair)
Land Office
Public Debt
Rules

4th R.S. - 1851
Judiciary
Public Debt
State Affairs

2nd R.S. - 1847
Judiciary
Penitentiary (Chair)
Public Buildings

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