<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-10-21</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001254595</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST POTOMAC REALTY TRUST</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>(FPO)</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001265613</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DONATELLI DOUGLAS J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7200 WISCONSIN AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 310</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BETHESDA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20814</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>1</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Shares</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>700</value>
					<footnoteId id="F1"/>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeHolding>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<derivativeTable>
		<derivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Units of Limited Partnership Interest</value>
				<footnoteId id="F2"/>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>0.0000</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<exerciseDate>
				<footnoteId id="F2"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<footnoteId id="F2"/>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Shares</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>62581.0000</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeHolding>
	</derivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Common shares issued upon formation of First Potomac Realty Trust in July 2003.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person owns units of limited partnership interest in First Potomac Realty Investment Limited Partnership, the operating partnership for First Potomac Realty Trust.  Under the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of First Potomac Realty Investment Limited Partnership, which will become effective upon closing of the initial public offering of the Trust, the units will be redeemable, at the option of the Trust, into a like number of common shares of the Trust, or the fair market value of such common shares in cash, after 12 months from the closing of the initial public offering.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Michael H. Comer, Attorney in-fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-10-21</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

