Brother Potamian

Born Michael Francis O'Reilly in Ireland in 1847, he emigrated to New York as a child and entered the Brothers of the Christian Schools while still young. He became known as Brother Potamian and spent much of his life in Catholic education, teaching in Canada, England, and the United States.

He built a strong reputation as a scientist as well as a teacher. Brother Potamian worked in physics and chemistry, taught at Manhattan College, and wrote widely on scientific subjects for both specialist and general readers. He also contributed articles to the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia.

He is especially remembered for books such as Makers of Electricity, which presents the story of science through the lives of its pioneers. That mix of learning, storytelling, and enthusiasm made his work appealing not just to students, but to anyone curious about how scientific discovery unfolds.