Constituency Dates
Westminster 1722 – 6 Nov. 1722
Family and Education
bap. 22 Oct. 1671, 2nd s. of John Cotton of Ashill, Norf. by Ann, da. of Jermyn Wright of Wangford, Suff., sis. of Sir Robert Wright, c.j. King’s bench. m. Elizabeth, da. of John Wright, merchant taylor, of London, 3da. suc. e. bro. 1699.1F. C. Cass, East Barnet, 107.
Offices Held

Clerk of Cutlers’ Co 1705 – d.; dep. steward, Westminster 1714 – 26, 1727–d.2Proc. of court of burgesses of Westminster.

Address
Main residences: Little Grove, East Barnet, Herts.; the Middle Temple, London.
biography text

Cotton was connected with the Duke of Ormonde,3Add. 28893, f. 473. who as high steward of Westminster appointed him his deputy to preside over the court of burgesses. He was returned as a Tory for Westminster in 1722 with the support of Atterbury, whom he advised in financial matters.4Nichols, Epistolary Corresp. Bp. Atterbury, iv. 225-6, 256; v, 133-7. Unseated on petition, he stood again, but was defeated. During an illness in 1726-7, Archibald Hutcheson replaced him as deputy steward of Westminster.5Ibid. iv. 226; court of burgesses of Westminster. Suffering ‘many losses and misfortunes’,6PCC 53 Wake. in 1728 he had to sell Little Grove, where he had built a mansion.7East Barnet, 88, 110. He died December 1736.

Author
E.C.
Volume
Commons 1715-1754
Notes
  • 1. F. C. Cass, East Barnet, 107.
  • 2. Proc. of court of burgesses of Westminster.
  • 3. Add. 28893, f. 473.
  • 4. Nichols, Epistolary Corresp. Bp. Atterbury, iv. 225-6, 256; v, 133-7.
  • 5. Ibid. iv. 226; court of burgesses of Westminster.
  • 6. PCC 53 Wake.
  • 7. East Barnet, 88, 110.