Potto Brown
Potto Brown (1797–1871) was a miller and nonconformist philanthropist in Huntingdonshire, England. He is commemorated by a statue in the village of Houghton where he was born, lived and died. Local schools and churches are a monument to his philanthropy.
Early life
Brown was born into a prominent Quaker family. He was the fourth of 12 children of William Brown and Elizabeth Hicks and was named after his paternal grandmother, Sarah Potto. Brown’s father was a baker and miller in Earith, moving to Houghton to run Houghton Mill on the River Ouse.
Brown was educated at Huntingdon Grammar School and Slepe Hall in St Ives, a school for about 75 boys many of whom came from dissenting families. He did not excel academically. "That which is conventionally called education left strangely few traces upon him." It was at Slepe Hall that Brown met his future business partner Joseph Goodman.
Upon leaving school Brown, together with Goodman, started work in his father’s mill. They took over the running of the mill in 1821 when William Brown retired. After his retirement William Brown took up medicine, attending lectures and hospital rounds in London and then becoming apprenticed to a local surgeon and apothecary, George Cockle.
Podcasts:
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by Anouk
Body Brain
by: AnoukWell you know I've got this problem
'Cause there is you
No matter how I try to tell you just can't see
Oh no, I won't get through
You've got a body and a brain
Instead of pointing to another
Take a look at yourself
Why don't you just use that thing inside your head
And try to tell me why
You've got a body and a brain
You're free to speak, could you explain
The reason for your narrow mind
You're thinking medieval times
Your ignorance just gets you scared
Of everything and I don't know
Which way the wind is blowing
Hoping it will blow your fears away
I'm sure I'll never solve this problem
But I hope you will
I'll speak my mind and tell you time and time again
Though I won't get through
You've got a body and a brain
You're free to speak, could you explain
The reason for your narrow mind
You're thinking medieval times
Your ignorance just gets you scared
Of everything and I don't know
Which way the wind is blowing
Hoping it will blow your fears away
Blow your fears away
Time and time and time and time again
But I can't get through baby
Let me explain
You've got a body and a brain
You're free to speak, could you explain
The reason for your narrow mind
You're thinking medieval times
Your ignorance just gets you scared
Of everything and I don't know
Which way the wind is blowing