Thomas Reed Potts (February 10, 1810 – October 6, 1874) was an American physician, civic leader and the first Mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota.

After graduating from medical school, Potts moved across the country and eventually found his way to the young settlement of St. Paul.

Active in civic life and popular in his medical practice, he was elected as the first President of the Town Board.

Despite a successful tenure, he tired of politics and retired after one term to continue his practice; however he did hold several key health-related positions.

[1] Potts lived for many years in a small, white house on Roberts Street in St. Paul, and despite having a large practice and many offices did not care much about money.

He left little in ways of property to his widow, who later lived for a time with the family of Henry Hastings Sibley, who was her brother-in-law.

[5] He was considered a strong candidate for any elected position in Ramsey County; however he despised politics and after his brief term as mayor decided to stick to the practice of medicine.