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.
Henry Potter
Born 1766 in Mecklenburg County, VA
Died 1857 in Fayetteville, NC
FJC ID: 1923
- Gender
- Male
- Race
- White
Prior employment
- Private practice, Raleigh, North Carolina, ca.1792–1802
Appointments
- U.S. District Court for the Albemarle, Cape Fear & Pamptico Districts of North Carolina1802–1857 · Appointed by Thomas Jefferson (Jeffersonian Republican)Term ended: Death
- U.S. Circuit Court for the Fifth Circuit1802–1802 · Appointed by Thomas Jefferson (Jeffersonian Republican)Term ended: Appointment to Another Judicial Position
Education
- Read law1790