Cotter baronets facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cotter Baronetcy of Rockforest- 1763 - |
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Arms: Quarterly, 1st & 4th, argent a chevron gules between three serpents proper, Cotter; 2nd and 3rd, azure, a fesse between a fleur-de-lis in chief and a mullet in base or, Rogerson.
Crest:-A dexter arm embowed, armed and grasping a dart, all proper. |
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| Creation date | 11 August 1763 |
| Monarch | King George III |
| Baronetage | Baronetage of Ireland |
| First holder | Sir James Cotter, 1st Baronet |
| Present holder | Sir Julius Cotter, 8th Baronet |
| Heir apparent | Stuart Cotter |
| Remainder to | the 1st Baronet's heirs male |
| Status | Extant |
| Former seat(s) | Anngrove, Rockforest |
| Motto | DUM SPIRO SPERO (While I breath I hope.) |
The Cotter Baronetcy of Rockforest is a special title given to a family in County Cork, Ireland. It's part of the Baronetage of Ireland, which is a list of these special titles. A Baronet is a bit like a knight, but the title can be passed down through the family.
This Baronetcy was first created on August 11, 1763. It was given to James Cotter by King George III. James Cotter was a member of the Irish House of Commons, which was like the parliament in Ireland at the time. The Cotter family is believed to be related to Óttar of Dublin, a Viking-Irish King of Dublin who ruled a long time ago, from 1142 to 1148.
Contents
The Cotter Baronets: A Family History
The First Baronet: Sir James Cotter
The first Baronet, Sir James Cotter, was born around 1714. He went to school at Midleton College. His father was James Cotter the Younger. After his father's death, the authorities helped raise James and his brothers and sisters. They were brought up as Protestants. This was a big change for the family. Even so, the Cotter family kept their wealth and importance. Sir James became the first Baronet of Rockforest in 1763.
Later Baronets and Their Roles
- The second Baronet, Sir James Laurence Cotter, took over the title in 1770. He also became a Member of Parliament in the Irish House of Commons. He represented different areas between 1771 and 1790.
- The third Baronet, Sir James Laurence Cotter, became Baronet in 1829. He represented Mallow in the British House of Commons. This was the parliament for the whole United Kingdom.
- The fourth Baronet, Sir James Laurence Cotter, became Baronet in 1834. He served in the 27th Regiment of the army. He was also part of Her Majesty's Body Guard. In 1882, he was given the important job of High Sheriff of County Cork. This role was about keeping law and order in the county.
- The fifth Baronet, Sir James Laurence Cotter, became Baronet in 1902. He was a Lieutenant in the South of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry. In 1914, he also became the High Sheriff of County Cork.
- The sixth Baronet, Sir Delaval Cotter, was a great-grandson of the third Baronet. He went to Malvern College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 13th/18th Regiment of the Royal Hussars. He fought bravely in the Second World War. For his actions, he received the Distinguished Service Order, a very important military award.
- The seventh Baronet, Sir Patrick Cotter, became Baronet in 2001. He was the nephew of the sixth Baronet. Sir Patrick went to Blundell's School and the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. He was known for being an antique dealer and collector.
- The eighth Baronet, Sir Julius Cotter, is the current holder of the title. He is the only son of the seventh Baronet. He became the eighth Baronet of Rockforest on January 11, 2023.
The Current Baronet: Sir Julius Cotter
Sir Julius Laurence George Cotter, the 8th Baronet of Rockforest, was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1968. He is the only son of the 7th Baronet.
Sir Julius studied at Allhallows College and the University of East London. He earned a BA Honours Degree in Fine Art and Film Theory.
He first worked in an art gallery in London. Later, he became an Assistant Director for TV shows and commercials in Spain. Since 2010, he has been an actor. He has appeared in several film and TV series. You might know him from roles like Doisdado in the Amazon Prime series Operación Marea Negra (2023-2024). He was also Mr. Anderson in the Netflix series Unauthorized Living (2020). He played Hugh Fleming in the series La Verdad (2018) on Amazon Prime. He is usually credited as Julius Cotter. Sir Julius has lived in both England and Spain. He works in both English and Spanish.
His cousin, Stuart Cotter, is the heir apparent. This means Stuart is next in line to inherit the title.
Family Homes: Anngrove and Rockforest
The Cotter family has had two main homes over the years.
Anngrove
Sir James Cotter, a knight and the grandfather of the first Baronet, was a very important Catholic landowner in Ireland. He lived at a place called Ballinsperig, which later became known as Anngrove.
In March 1689, King James II came to Ireland. He stayed at Anngrove with Sir James. Sir James Cotter was a top commander for King James II's forces in Cork, Limerick, and Kerry. He was a strong supporter of the House of Stuart. King James II even promised to make him a Marquess. However, King James II lost a big battle, the Battle of the Boyne, in 1690. He then went to France and lived there in exile. So, he couldn't keep his promise to Sir James.
Even though Sir James supported King James II, he was smart about politics. He had the support of his Protestant neighbors. This helped him keep his property and lands. Many poets in Ireland praised him as one of the few Catholic landowners who managed to keep his wealth.
Rockforest
Rockforest became the family's main home from the mid-1700s. In 1786, a writer named Wilson described it as "a most beautiful improvement, highly wooded, situated on the Blackwater." He said it was the home of James Laurence Cotter.
The main part of the house was built by Sir James in the early Georgian period. His grandfather had been given the land in 1652. The design included parts of an older house. This older house was built by the original owners, the Roches, who were Barons of Fermoy.
In 1837, a book called A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland described Rockforest. It said the house was "beautifully situated on a rising ground." It was between the Blackwater River and the Lavally mountain. The property had many trees. The river flowed under a rock, and the woods and a tower on the rock made a beautiful scene. It was here that a very rare type of quartz, called Cotterite, was found. It was discovered by Grace Elizabeth Cotter (1830-1879).
The fifth Baronet eventually sold Rockforest in 1916. The sales brochure called it to the attention of "Noblemen, Hunting Men, Capitalists and Others." It described the house as "stately" and in "perfect structural and decorative repair." It said the house had great views and was on the River Blackwater. It was known as "the most Desirable and Beautiful Residential Property on the fertile banks of the Irish Rhine."
List of Cotter Baronets of Rockforest (1763)
- Sir James Cotter, 1st Baronet (around 1714–1770)
- Sir James Laurence Cotter, 2nd Baronet (around 1748–1829)
- Sir James Laurence Cotter, 3rd Baronet (around 1787–1834)
- Sir James Laurence Cotter, 4th Baronet (1828–1902)
- Sir James Laurence Cotter, 5th Baronet (1887–1924)
- Sir Delaval James Alfred Cotter, 6th Baronet (1911–2001)
- Sir Patrick Laurence Delaval Cotter, 7th Baronet (1941–2023)
- Sir Julius Laurence George Cotter, 8th Baronet (born 1968)
See also
