Margaret Horton Potter (pseudonym, Robert Dolly Williams; May 20, 1881 – December 22, 1911) was an American novelist, specializing in historical fiction. Her first novel, A Social Lion, was published while she was still a teenager.
Early life Potter was born in Chicago, Illinois,Rossiter Johnson and John Howard Brown, eds., The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans (Biographical Society, 1904): 1903. the daughter of Orrin Woodard Potter (1836–1907), a wealthy steel manufacturer,"Orrin W. Potter Stricken". Chicago Tribune (May 15, 1907): 9. and Ellen Owen Potter, who was active in women's clubs."Mrs. Orrin W. Potter Dies at Lake Geneva". Los Angeles Herald (June 21, 1904). She was educated at a local prep school and "pursued advanced studies under a private tutor".
Career Potter was a teenager when R. R. Donnelley and Sons published her novel A Social Lion (1899), under the pseudonym Robert Dolly Williams."A social lion". WorldCat. It features a wealthy Chicago writer who "lives in fear ... that a past alliance will be discovered and bring him social disgrace." Modeled on actual people and events in Chicago society, it was considered such a scandalous tale that her family tried (unsuccessfully) to prevent its publication."Wife in Asylum Is Divorce Defendant". Inter Ocean (October 6, 1910): 1. via Newspapers.com
Her other novels include Uncanonized: A Romance of English Monachism (1900); The House of de Mailly: A Romance (1901); Istar of Babylon: A Phantasy (1902); The Castle of Twilight (1903); The Flame-Gatherers (1904); The Fire of Spring (1905); The Genius (1906); The Princess (1907); and The Golden Ladder (1908)."Online Books by Margaret Horton Potter". The Online Books Page. Most of them are historical fiction, with romance plots and exotic settings for American readers,"Margaret Horton Potter". The Bookseller (September 1903): 316."The Stage Setting and Some Recent Books". The Bookman (May 1906): 281. though A Social Lion and The Golden Ladder are set in Chicago.James A. Kaser, The Chicago of Fiction: A Resource Guide (Scarecrow Press 2011): 290. There are fantasy elements in some of her novels, such as supernatural characters (the title character in Istar of Babylon is the goddess Ishtar) and the transmigrated souls in The Flame-Gatherers."Good Books for Summer Reading". Book News 22 (June 1904): 1053–54.
Potter also wrote short stories and poems that appeared in Harper's Magazine."Margaret Horton Potter: From This Author". Harper's Magazine (harpers.org). She and Wallace Rice co-wrote The Devil's Choice, a play that was produced in Chicago in 1909."In the Theaters". Chicago Daily Tribune (May 4, 1909): 10. via Newspapers.com
Personal life Potter married lawyer John Donald Black (son of John C. Black) on January 1, 1902."Margaret Horton Potter, Authoress, Who Vowed Never to Wed, Is Now Mrs. J. D. Black". Boston Post (January 9, 1902): 9. via Newspapers.com In about 1905, she became addicted to morphine."Tells of Authoress's Struggle with Drug". Pittsburgh Sunday Post (December 24, 1911): 2. via Newspapers.com In May 1910 she was declared mentally incompetent due to chronic alcoholism and morphine addiction"Margaret Black Is Insane". Chicago Tribune (May 6, 1910): 3. via Newspapers.com and institutionalized."A Woman Novelist Insane". Kansas City Times (May 6, 1910): 1. via Newspapers.com After her release, her husband divorced her for "habitual drunkenness"."Would Divorce Novelist". New York Times (October 6, 1910). She died from a morphine overdose, ruled accidental,"Chicago Authoress Is Morphine Victim". Indianapolis Star (December 23, 1910: 5. via Newspapers.com in 1911, aged 30 years."Drug Kills Noted Novelist". The Gazette Times, Pittsburgh (December 23, 1911): 10.
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