Ian Potter
Sir William Ian Potter (25 August 1902 – 24 October 1994) was an Australian stockbroker, businessman and philanthropist. The Ian Potter Foundation, which he established in 1964, has made grants to research institutes, charities, universities and arts organisations.
In 1962, he was knighted. In 1973, he received an honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Melbourne.
Potter was the chairman of boards including the Australian Ballet, the Australian Opera and the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust. He was elected a fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 1978.
He was survived by his fourth wife Lady (Primrose) Potter.[1] His daughter Caroly is married to Simon Betterman Parker Bowles, brother of Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles, former husband of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
Legacy
Institutions named after Sir Ian include:
- The Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square (part of the National Gallery of Victoria),
- The Ian Potter Museum of Art at the University of Melbourne,
- The Ian Potter Children's Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne.
Honours and awards
- Knight Batchelor (Imperial), 1962
- Royal Order of the Polar Star (Sweden), 1983
- Honorary degree of doctor of laws by the University of Melbourne, 1973
- Honorary fellow of the Australian Stock Exchange, 1991,
- Honorary life member of the AETT, Australian Ballet Foundation, Australian Opera, and National Gallery of Victoria
References
- National Library of Australia Bookshop; Retrieved 8 April 2013
Further reading
- "Ian Potter – A Biography: Financier, Philanthropist and Patron of the Arts", by Peter Yule. The Miegunyah Press (May 2006). ISBN 0-522-85252-1
- Australian Academy of Science biography
- Excerpt from Ian Potter - A Biography concerning his involvement with Melbourne University
External links
- The Ian Potter Foundation
- The Ian Potter Centre, NGV Australia
- The Ian Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne