Francis Potter was an English painter, clergyman, Biblical commentator, and experimentalist, an early Fellow of the Royal Society.
Background
He was second son of Richard Potter (died 1628), prebendary of Worcester, and his wife, who belonged to the Horsey family of Clifton, Dorset. He was born at Mere vicarage on 29 May 1594, and educated at the King"s School, Worcester. In 1625 he proceeded Bachelor of Divinity, and, after his father"s death in 1628, succeeded him as rector of Kilmington, although he did not at first reside there.
Education
In 1609 he went up as a commoner to Trinity College, Oxford where his elder brother Hannibal was a scholar. He graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1613, and Master of Arts
Career
In 1616. He escaped sequestration during the English Civil War and Interregnum. He was admitted a Fellow of Royal Society on 11 November 1663. soon after its foundation. Potter made quadrants with a graduated compass of his own invention, which he gave to Aubrey.
He experimented with bees, and showed Aubrey their thighs in a microscope.
He also theorised about blood transfusion (about 1640), and later communicated his results through Aubrey to the Royal Society. lieutenant has been suggested that Potter"s priority in practical work on blood transfusion, as hinted by Timothy Clarke, is more significant than has been admitted in the past
He made a sundial on the north side of the original quadrangle of Trinity College. He also drew and painted.
And Aubrey says that he designed an instrument for drawing in perspective, which was afterwards re-invented by Christopher Wren.
He was fond of chess, which he played with his contemporary at Trinity, Colonel Bishop.