Cora Urquhart Potter 002

Mary Cora Urquhart (1857-1936) aka Mrs. Brown Potter and Cora Urquhart Potter - American socialite and stage actress was born the eldest of four children on 15 May 1857 in New Orleans, Louisiana to parents, merchant David Urquart (1828-1900) and Augusta Caroline Slocomb (1835-1910). She married financier James Brown Potter (1853-1922) the son of millionaire Howard Cranston Potter in 1877. They had one daughter, Anne "Fifi" Brown Potter (1879-1969). In 1886 the couple travelled to England where they were guests of the Prince of Wales at Sandringham House.

Mr. James Brown Potter returned to the United States, while much to the displeasure of her in-laws Cora embarked upon a stage career. Her debut in 1887 was at the Theatre Royal in Brighton, Sussex and a month later appeared at the Haymarket Theatre, London. She began an acting partnership with Harold Kyrle Bellew (1850-1911) which lasted for about ten years and took them on tours around the world, including Australia, India, South Africa, Japan, China and New York. On her return to England she carried two hundred and forty cases of curios and photographs, received in the various countries she visited.

Cora and James Brown Potter eventually divorced in 1900. Cora entered unsuccessfully into theatrical management in 1904 before returning to acting in various tours and productions. Her last appearance on the London stage was in 1912 performing the prologue to "Buddha", returning for a benefit at St. Julians, Guernsey in 1919. In semi retirement she lived with her mother at Staines on the Thames and died on 12 February 1936 at her villa in Beauliue-sur-Mer, France aged 78.