[1] Pottier became second-in-command of the screw transport Creuse in French Cochinchina in February 1865, beginning a long stay in East Asia and the Pacific that included duty aboard the river gunboat Hache.

Becoming a Knight of the Legion of Honour on 10 August 1868, he became second-in-command of the screw aviso Coetlogon in the China and Japan Division, and he became the ship's commanding officer in March 1871.

[1] Pottier's long stay in East Asia and the Pacific finally came to an end in 1874, when he became second-in-command of the screw aviso Forbin in the South Atlantic Division.

From 1877 to 1881, he served aboard ships of the Antilles Division, first as second-in-command of the steam frigate Victoire from 1877 to 1878, then as second-in command of the cruiser Châteaurenault.

[1] Promoted to capitaine de frégate on 12 July 1881, Pottier became second-in-command of the steam frigate Flore, which was serving as a training ship for midshipmen.

[1] Pottier received a promotion to capitaine de vaisseau on 8 February 1886 and took command of the battleship Vauban in the Levant Division in April 1887.

Escorted by the other three flagships, Bugeaud took him to Suda, Crete, where Prince George disembarked on 21 December 1898 to take up duties as High Commissioner of the new Cretan State under the suzerainty of the Ottoman sultan.