He was chosen in 1256 to succeed Peter de Ramsay, who had just died, as Bishop of Aberdeen.
John of Fordun noted that, although an Englishman, he took an oath of fidelity to King Alexander III of Scotland before taking up his bishopric.
There are no details of how Potton had managed to get himself in a position to take up such a prestigious post.
Potton's episcopate is rather obscure, though his few years in charge seem to have been very significant ones for the history of the bishopric.
His successor Hugh de Benin was consecrated in the summer of the latter year.