Charles Cotton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Cotton
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Charles Cotton from Angling by Alexander Cargill, 1897
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| Born | 28 April 1630 Alstonefield, Staffordshire
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| Died | 16 February 1687 (aged 56) |
| Occupation | Poet, writer |
| Known for | Translation of Montaigne; The Compleat Gamester |
Charles Cotton (born April 28, 1630 – died February 16, 1687) was an English poet and writer. He is best known for translating the works of Michel de Montaigne from French. He also helped write The Compleat Angler, a famous book about fishing. Another important book linked to him is The Compleat Gamester.
Contents
Growing Up and Early Life
Charles Cotton was born in Alstonefield, Staffordshire, England. His home was Beresford Hall, close to the beautiful Peak District in Derbyshire. His father, also named Charles Cotton, was friends with famous writers like Ben Jonson and Izaak Walton.
Charles Cotton Jr. did not go to a university. Instead, he was taught by a private tutor named Ralph Rawson. He traveled in France and possibly Italy. When he was 28, he inherited his family's property. However, it had many financial problems from lawsuits during his father's life. Like many who supported the King during the English Civil War, Charles spent most of his life quietly in the countryside. He lived in the Peak District and North Staffordshire. He even served as a Captain in Ireland for a short time.
A Passion for Fishing
Charles Cotton became good friends with Izaak Walton around 1655. Their friendship was very important. Walton's and Cotton's initials were even carved above the door of Cotton's small fishing cottage. This cottage was on the River Dove near Hartington.
Cotton wrote a special section for Walton's famous book, The Compleat Angler. This part was called "Instructions how to angle for a trout or grayling in a clear stream." It had twelve chapters about fishing in clear water, especially fly fishing. He also wrote a well-known poem called "The Retirement," which was added to the book.
Cotton's Fishing Advice
Cotton loved the Peak District and wrote a long poem describing its beauty. In his time, getting to good fishing spots was often difficult. In The Compleat Angler, he describes a journey with a friend through a wild, mountainous area. His friend is amazed by how steep and narrow the paths are.
Eventually, they reach a peaceful valley where Cotton's house and fishing hut stand. He describes it as a "paradise" for fishing, with a "delicate clear river." Here, they would eat and smoke to get ready for fishing. Cotton suggested a fishing rod of five or six yards for trout. He said a longer rod would be too hard to use comfortably.
Cotton used a light fishing line made of horse-hair. His fishing rod was made of solid wood and was quite heavy. His way of fly-fishing was different from how it's done today. He advised fishing "fine and far off" and using small, neat flies. He believed that the best flies for catching fish often looked too small to an untrained eye.
Cotton made his flies from unusual materials. These included bear hair, camel's under fur, and bristles from a hog's ear. His visitor once exclaimed, "What a heap of trumpery is here!" when seeing Cotton's collection. Cotton replied that some of these materials were very hard to find and important to him.
He even dedicated a whole chapter to collecting flies for every month of the year. He described a stonefly in great detail, showing his careful observation of nature. He noted how fish would rise to eat these flies on a calm day.
Cotton was not ashamed of using bait or killing many fish. He once caught "thirty, five and thirty, and forty of the best trouts" in a few hours. He ended his fishing advice with a practical recipe for boiled trout with beer and horseradish. Cotton simply wanted his friends to enjoy fishing as much as he did.
Family Life
In 1656, Charles Cotton married his cousin, Isabella Hutchinson. She was the daughter of Thomas Hutchinson, a Member of Parliament. They had one child, Catherine Cotton. Isabella died in 1670.
Later, in 1675, he married the Countess of Ardglass. She had a good income, but Cotton could not spend her money.
Other Writings
The first edition of The Compleat Gamester (1674) is believed to be written by Cotton. This book was a very important guide to playing games, especially gambling games. It covered billiards, card games, dice, horse racing, and even cock fighting. It was the main English guide until 1750.
Cotton also translated many works from French. His most famous translation was the Essays of M. de Montaigne (1685–1686). This translation is still highly respected today.
Some of his other works include:
- The Scarronides, or Virgil Travestie (1664–1670): A funny, exaggerated version of parts of the Aeneid.
- Burlesque upon Burlesque (1675): Another humorous take on ancient writings.
- The Moral Philosophy of the Stoicks (1667): Translated from a French book.
- The History of the Life of the Duke d'Espernon (1670): Also translated from French.
- The Planter's Manual (1675): A practical book about growing trees, a topic Cotton knew well.
- The Wonders of the Peake (1681): A poem describing the natural wonders of the Peak District.
Later Life and Legacy
Charles Cotton died on February 16, 1687. At the time of his death, he had many debts. He was buried in St James's Church, Piccadilly in London.
Even though some of his writings were humorous and exaggerated, critics praised his other poems. The poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge admired his clear and natural writing style. William Wordsworth also quoted from Cotton's "Ode to Winter." His poem "The Retirement" is still found in The Compleat Angler.
Cotton's translation of Montaigne's essays has been reprinted many times and is still well-regarded. His poetry, especially his funny "burlesques," remained popular for a long time.
In 1943, the composer Benjamin Britten set Cotton's poem The Evening Quatrains to music. A memorial to Charles Cotton can be found in St James's Church, Piccadilly, where he was buried.
Images for kids
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A memorial to Charles Cotton in St James's Church, Piccadilly
Sources
- A Fly Fishing History
