Sir John Cotton, 4th Baronet, of Connington facts for kids
Sir John Cotton, 4th Baronet (born around 1680 – died 5 February 1731), was an English landowner and politician. He served in the House of Commons of England and later the House of Commons of Great Britain during the early 1700s. A Baronet is a special title, like a knight, but it can be passed down through the family.
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Who Was Sir John Cotton?
Sir John Cotton was an important figure in English politics during his time. He held the title of 4th Baronet, which means he inherited a special rank from his family. This title was created by the King and was passed down through the male line.
His Family Background
Sir John Cotton was the son of John Cotton and Frances Downing. His father was the oldest son of Sir John Cotton, 3rd Baronet, of Connington. His mother, Frances, came from another important family. Her father was Sir George Downing, 1st Baronet. Sir George Downing was a famous statesman and financier. A statesman is someone skilled in government affairs, and a financier deals with money and investments.
Marriage and Family Life
Sir John Cotton married Elizabeth Herbert. Her father was James Herbert, who was a younger son of Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke. Elizabeth's mother was Lady Catherine Osborne, whose father was Thomas Osborne, 1st Duke of Leeds. Sir John and Elizabeth did not have any children. Because of this, when Sir John died, his Baronet title passed to his uncle, Robert Cotton.
His Political Career
Sir John Cotton was a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is a person elected to represent a group of people in the country's main law-making body. The House of Commons is where elected representatives meet to discuss and create laws for the country.
Sir John represented two different areas during his time as an MP:
- He was an MP for Huntingdon from 1705 to 1706.
- Later, he served as an MP for Huntingdonshire from 1710 to 1713.
His work as an MP meant he helped make decisions about how England and later Great Britain were governed.
