Charles Lodowick Cotterell facts for kids

Sir Charles Lodowick Cotterell (born August 10, 1654 – died July 9, 1710) was an important English courtier. A courtier is someone who attends or serves at the court of a king or queen. Sir Charles followed in his father's footsteps, serving the royal family during a time of change in England.

Life and Career

Charles Lodowick Cotterell was the oldest son of another famous courtier, Sir Charles Cotterell. He received a good education at Trinity College, Cambridge, a well-known university. There, he earned a special degree in law. Later, he also received an honorary law degree from Oxford University.

In 1686, Charles Lodowick Cotterell took over his father's important job as the Master of the Ceremonies. This role meant he was in charge of all the formal events, receptions, and diplomatic meetings at the royal court. It was a very important job that required a lot of skill and knowledge of royal traditions.

In 1687, he was given the title of Knight, becoming "Sir Charles." This was a special honor from the King. He continued to serve the royal family, even becoming a commissioner of the privy seal in 1697. This meant he was part of a group that helped manage important government documents.

Sir Charles made sure his family's tradition of serving the court would continue. In 1699, he arranged for his son to take over his role as Master of the Ceremonies after him. This shows how important this position was to his family.

Sir Charles Lodowick Cotterell passed away in July 1710.

His Writings

Sir Charles Lodowick Cotterell also wrote a book. After Prince George of Denmark died in 1708, Sir Charles published a short book called a "Whole Life" about the prince. These types of small, inexpensive books were called chapbooks and were popular at the time. A copy of his book can still be found in a special collection at the British Museum today.

His Family

Sir Charles Lodowick Cotterell was married twice. First, he married Eliza Burwell, and later, he married Elizabeth Chute. His oldest son from his first marriage, Clement Cotterell, followed the family tradition. When his father died, Clement became the Master of the Ceremonies, just like his father and grandfather before him.