Richard Potter

Who was Richard Potter?

Richard Potter was an American magician, hypnotist and ventriloquist.

Potter was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts; his father was a British tax collector and his mother a black servant. He became a well-known magician in the New England area. He eventually performed up and down the east coast, going as far south as Alabama. One of Potter's notable run-ins with prejudice occurred in Mobile, Alabama. Despite this issue, Potter still made over $4000 during his visit. Richard Potter was the first African-American magician and the first American-born magician to gain fame in his own country. Later in life he moved to New Hampshire and purchased a large amount of land. The village of Potter Place where he lived was named after him.

Potter inspired Grace Metalious's character Samuel Peyton in the novel Peyton Place.