Henry Potter (judge)

Henry Potter
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of North Carolina
In office
April 7, 1802  December 20, 1857
Appointed byThomas Jefferson
Preceded byJohn Sitgreaves
Succeeded byAsa Biggs
Judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Fifth Circuit
In office
May 9, 1801  April 7, 1802
Appointed byThomas Jefferson
Preceded bySeat established by 2 Stat. 89
Succeeded byEdward Harris
Personal details
Born
Henry Potter

(1766-01-05)January 5, 1766
Mecklenburg County,
Colony of Virginia,
British America
DiedDecember 20, 1857(1857-12-20) (aged 91)
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Educationread law

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.