COTTON, Robert Bruce (1571-1631), of London and Connington, Hunts.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Family and Education

b. 22 Jan. 1571, s. of Thomas Cotton of Connington by his 1st w. Elizabeth, da. of Francis Shirley of Staunton Harold, Leics. educ. Westminster; Jesus, Camb. 1581, BA c.1585; M. Temple 1588. m. c.1593, Elizabeth, da. and coh. of William Brocas of Theddingworth, Leics., 1s. suc. fa. 1592. Kntd. 1603; cr. Bt. 1611.

Offices Held

Member, Antiq. Soc. c. 1591; j.p. Hunts. 1601.

Biography

Cotton’s parliamentary career belongs to the Stuart period, though he was returned to Elizabeth’s last Parliament for an Isle of Wight borough by Sir George Carey, to whom he may have been introduced by Thomas James. Bodley’s first librarian. Cotton later put James’s nephew in charge of his own library. A bill had been introduced into the 1597 Parliament to deal with Cotton’s lands, to which were appointed William Cotton and (Sir) Robert Wroth I, father of the second Newtown MP in 1601.

Cotton died 6 May 1631 and was buried at Connington.

DNB; N. and Q. (ser. 3), vi. 449-51; Vis. Hunts. (Cam. Soc. xliii), 27-8; PCC 67 St. John; C142/232/70; D’Ewes, 563.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: Patricia Hyde

Notes