E. B. Potter
Encyclopedia
Elmer Belmont "Ned" Potter, (27 December 1908 — 22 November 1997), was an American
historian
and author
. He was the leading naval historian at the United States Naval Academy
from the late 1940s to the mid-1970s, and author/editor, in collaboration with Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, of the Naval Academy's famous textbook on naval history: Sea Power.
to Judson Rice Potter, a grocer, and Fannie (née Beacham) Potter, he attended the University of Richmond
, where he completed his B.A.
degree in 1929. Known as "Ned" among family and friends, Potter taught history in high schools between 1931–41, before completing his Master of Arts
degree in history at the University of Chicago
in 1940.
In 1941, he joined the U.S. Naval Reserve and was assigned to the United States Naval Academy
at Annapolis, Maryland
, where he began to teach history. With the exception of three years service in the Pacific theater in 1943-45, Potter spent his entire career at the Naval Academy until he retired in 1977.
While at the Naval Academy he married Grace Brauer (8 August 1925—25 February 1997), on 21 May 1954, with whom he had two daughters: Katherine Anne, Lorraine Frances.
Potter lectured widely on naval history and was a member of the U.S. Naval Institute, the American Historical Association
, and the American Association of University Professors
.
Potter died of congestive heart failure in Annapolis, Maryland
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. He was the leading naval historian at the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
from the late 1940s to the mid-1970s, and author/editor, in collaboration with Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, of the Naval Academy's famous textbook on naval history: Sea Power.
Career
Born in Norfolk, VirginiaNorfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
to Judson Rice Potter, a grocer, and Fannie (née Beacham) Potter, he attended the University of Richmond
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
, where he completed his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1929. Known as "Ned" among family and friends, Potter taught history in high schools between 1931–41, before completing his Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in history at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1940.
In 1941, he joined the U.S. Naval Reserve and was assigned to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
at Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
, where he began to teach history. With the exception of three years service in the Pacific theater in 1943-45, Potter spent his entire career at the Naval Academy until he retired in 1977.
While at the Naval Academy he married Grace Brauer (8 August 1925—25 February 1997), on 21 May 1954, with whom he had two daughters: Katherine Anne, Lorraine Frances.
Potter lectured widely on naval history and was a member of the U.S. Naval Institute, the American Historical Association
American Historical Association
The American Historical Association is the oldest and largest society of historians and professors of history in the United States. Founded in 1884, the association promotes historical studies, the teaching of history, and the preservation of and access to historical materials...
, and the American Association of University Professors
American Association of University Professors
The American Association of University Professors is an organization of professors and other academics in the United States. AAUP membership is about 47,000, with over 500 local campus chapters and 39 state organizations...
.
Potter died of congestive heart failure in Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
.
Awards
- 1977: Author Award of Merit, U.S. Naval Institute, for Nimitz
- 1977: Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary AchievementAlfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary AchievementThe Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary Achievement is made annually by the Navy League of the United States. It is named for the famous American naval historian and theorist, Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan, United States Navy who, through his writing, provided vital stimulus and guidance...
, Navy League of the United StatesNavy League of the United StatesThe Navy League of the United States, commonly referred to as The Navy League, is a national association made up of former members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Merchant Marine, and civilians interested in supporting the...
Published works
- American Sea Power since 1775, Lippincott, 1947.
- The United States and World Sea Power, by Henry H. Adams [and others] E.B. Potter, editor; J.R. Fredland, assistant editor. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1955.
- Sea Power: A Naval History, Associate editor: Chester W. Nimitz; assistant editors: J.R. Fredland [and] Henry H. Adams. Authors: Henry H. Adams [and others]. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1960.
- The Great Sea War: The Story of Naval Action in World War II, edited by E.B. Potter and Chester W. Nimitz. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1960; New York : Bramhall House, 1960.
- Triumph in the Pacific: The Navy's Struggle Against Japan, edited by E.B. Potter and Chester W. Nimitz. Spectrum book, S-66. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1963.
- The Naval Academy Illustrated History of the United States Navy, New York: Crowell, 1971; New York, Galahad Books, [1971].
- Seemacht: Eine Seekriegsgeschichte von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart, von Elmar [sic] B. Potter und Chester W. Nimitz; Deutsche Fassung hrsg. im Auftrag des Arbeitskreises für Wehrforschung von Jürgen RohwerJürgen RohwerJürgen Rohwer is a German naval military historian and Professor of history at the University of Stuttgart. He is currently residing in Weinstadt, Germany...
. München: Bernard & Graefe, 1974. (The most important of the several translations of Sea Power, this edition is greatly expanded and extensively corrected). - Nimitz, Naval Institute Press, 1976; 2008.
- Bull Halsey, Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1985; 2003.
- Admiral Arleigh BurkeArleigh BurkeAdmiral Arleigh Albert '31-knot' Burke was an admiral of the United States Navy who distinguished himself during World War II and the Korean War, and who served as Chief of Naval Operations during the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations.-Early life and naval career:Burke was born in Boulder,...
, New York: Random House, 1990; 2004.