Robert Cotton (MP) facts for kids
Sir Robert Cotton was an important English politician who lived a long time ago. He was born on May 2, 1644, and passed away on September 17, 1717. He served as a Member of Parliament, which means he was elected to help make laws for England. He held this important job for many years, from 1679 to 1701, and briefly again in 1702.
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About Robert Cotton
Robert Cotton was the third son in his family. His father was Sir Thomas Cotton, 2nd Baronet. Robert's mother was Alice, who was Sir Thomas's second wife.
His Early Life and Land
In 1662, Robert's father passed away. That same year, Robert received a special gift. His older half-brother gave him control of the manor of Hatley. This was an important area of land located in Cambridgeshire.
Robert Cotton as a Politician
Robert Cotton spent much of his life in politics. He became a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is a person who is elected by citizens to represent them in the country's government.
He represented different areas during his time in Parliament:
- He was an MP for Cambridgeshire from 1679 to 1695.
- Then, he represented Newport, Isle of Wight from 1695 to 1701.
- He also briefly served as an MP for Truro in 1702.
Besides being an MP, he had another important role. He was chosen as the High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire. This was a significant local government job. He held this position for part of the year 1688.
His Role in Government
Robert Cotton was part of the Tory political group. In 1691, he took on a very important job. He became one of the people in charge of the Postmaster General position. This role was responsible for managing the postal service across the country. He started this job after the previous Postmaster General, John Wildman, was no longer in the role.
