POTTER United Families

This collection was purchased by our joint cousin, baroness
Véronique van Caloen. Below is a self-portrait sent to David for the
Paris painters’ competition in 1848.
Louis was not just a well-known journalist, retired revolutionary
official, opposed to the search for the new (non Belgian) king… He
was a popular hero, still much beloved by the mid and lower classes,
in other words, dangerous for the Nations and their wealthy
representatives in Brussels. All of a sudden, the small streetwise hero
was weighting too much in Belgian politics. Even watched by the
police, while his friend inspector Plaisant could not protect him
anymore, he took his family to Paris in February 1831, and did not
return until 1838.
His voluntary exile prevented Louis from experiencing first-hand the
new government of Leopold I, who was formally made King of
Belgium on July 21, 1831. Prince Leopold of Saxe Coburg-Gotha was
not the Belgians' first choice, as loudly requested by the population,
but apparently was fine because the Dutch king, so much opposed
by Louis (with nothing more than petitions paid by coins and a prison
bed), was gone.
Louis’ lawyer and old-time friend, Belgian delegate in London, Van
de Weyer, had proposed Leopold's name in November 1830. But it
was Lord Palmerston who influenced the decision. Leopold was
English by culture and sympathy; any children of his future marriage
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