Jonathan Potts, surgeon, b. in Popodickon, Berks co., Pa., 1 April, 1745; d. in Reading, Pa., in October, 1781. He was a son of John Potts, the founder of Pottstown, Pa. After receiving a classical education, he went with Dr. Benjamin Rush to Edinburgh, Scotland, for medical study, and after his return he was graduated, in 1768, a bachelor of physic at the College of Philadelphia, at the first granting of medical degrees in this country, and in 1771 received the degree of M.D. His Latin thesis on the latter occasion, "De Febribus Intermittentibus potentissimum Tertianis" was published (Philadelphia, 1771). From 1768 till his death he was a member of the American philosophical society. He began the practice of medicine at Reading. Dr. Potts early identified himself with the struggle for independence, and was secretary of the Berks county committee of safety, and a member of the Provincial convention at Philadelphia, 23 Jan., 1775. In 1776 he was appointed surgeon for Canada and Lake George, and returned with Gen. Gates to Pennsylvania. In general orders, dated 12 Dec., 1776, Gen. Putnam directed that all officers that were in charge of any sick soldiers should "make return to Dr. Jonathan Potts, at Mr. John Biddle's, in Market street." Soon after this order was issued Dr. Potts was in service at the battle of Princeton. Dr. Potts was appointed in April, 1777, medical director-general of the northern department, and as such joined the army at Albany, N.Y. In November, 1777, he returned to Reading, having been furloughed, and while there was appointed by congress director-general of the hospitals of the middle department. He was subsequently surgeon of the first city troop of Philadelphia.--His brother, THOMAS, was one of the original members of the American philosophical society, and in 1776 was commissioned colonel of one of the Pennsylvania battalions.--Another brother, JOHN, studied law at the Temple, London, became a judge in the city of Philadelphia, and, sympathizing with the mother country, went to Halifax, Nova Scotia, but returned after the war.--Another brother, ISAAC, is said to have been the person that discovered Washington at prayer in the woods at Valley Forge; and the country-seat of DAVID, another brother, was Washington's headquarters at the latter place. See "Potts Memorial," by Mrs. Thomas Potts James.
Source: Appletons' Cyclopaedia of American Biography, vol. V, ed. by James Grant Wilson and John Fiske. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1888, p. 92.
Contributed by: Nancy.