Richard Potter (1783-1835) was a magician, hypnotist and ventriloquist. Potter was born in Boston; his father was a British tax collector and his mother a black servant.[1] 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. Potter's only run-in with prejudice was in Mobile, Alabama. Despite this issue, Potter still made over $4000 during his visit.[2] 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.[3]
Potter inspired Grace Metalious's character Samuel Peyton in the novel Peyton Place.