Henry John Stedman Cotton
Encyclopedia
Sir Henry John Stedman Cotton, KCSI
(13 September 1845 – 22 October 1915) had a long career in the Indian Civil Service, during which he was sympathetic to Indian nationalism. After returning to England, he served as a Liberal Party
Member of Parliament
(MP) for Nottingham East
from 1906
to January 1910.
He entered Magdalen College School
in 1856, Brighton College
in 1859, and King's College London
in 1861. He visited Switzerland in 1863. He married his wife Mary on August 1, 1867.
Cotton joined the Indian Civil Service, arriving in India in 1867. His first posting was at Midnapore
, where his immediate superior was William James Herschel, then the local magistrate. His eldest son H. E. A. Cotton
was born in that city in 1868.
He later served in Chuadanga
, where he witnessed the great flood of 1871. In 1872 he was posted to Calcutta
, and in 1873 he was appointed Assistant Secretary to
the Bengal Government by Sir George Campbell, and later worked under Sir Richard Temple
. In 1878 he became magistrate and collector at Chittagong
; in 1880 he became Senior Secretary to the Board of Revenue in Bengal. He later became Revenue Secretary to Government, Financial and Municipal Secretary, and then a member of the Bengal Legislative Council.
Cotton eventually rose to be Chief Commissioner
of Assam
(1896 to 1902), during which time he experienced the 1897 Assam earthquake. Cotton College, Guwahati
was established by him in 1901.
Cotton supported Indian Home Rule
and served as President of Indian National Congress
in 1904, being one of the few Englishmen to do so. As such, he led the opposition to Curzon
's invasion of Tibet
and partition of Bengal
.
.
Through his great-grandfather Joseph Cotton
(1746–1825), Henry John Stedman Cotton was a first cousin once removed
of both the judge Henry Cotton
(his godfather, who he was named after) and of the African explorer William Cotton Oswell
.
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
(13 September 1845 – 22 October 1915) had a long career in the Indian Civil Service, during which he was sympathetic to Indian nationalism. After returning to England, he served as a Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Nottingham East
Nottingham East (UK Parliament constituency)
Nottingham East is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
from 1906
United Kingdom general election, 1906
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
to January 1910.
He entered Magdalen College School
Magdalen College School, Oxford
Magdalen College School is an independent school for boys aged 7 to 18 and girls in the sixth form, located on The Plain in Oxford, England. It was founded as part of Magdalen College, Oxford by William Waynflete in 1480....
in 1856, Brighton College
Brighton College
Brighton College is an institution divided between a Senior School known simply as Brighton College, the Prep School and the Pre-Prep School. All of these schools are co-educational independent schools in Brighton, England, sited immediately next to each another. The Senior School caters for...
in 1859, and King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
in 1861. He visited Switzerland in 1863. He married his wife Mary on August 1, 1867.
Cotton joined the Indian Civil Service, arriving in India in 1867. His first posting was at Midnapore
Midnapore
Midnapore is the district headquarters of Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal. It is situated on the banks of the Kangsabati River . This area had taken a pioneering role in India's freedom struggle...
, where his immediate superior was William James Herschel, then the local magistrate. His eldest son H. E. A. Cotton
H. E. A. Cotton
Sir Harry Evan Auguste Cotton CIE was a barrister, administrator, journalist, historian and writer...
was born in that city in 1868.
He later served in Chuadanga
Chuadanga District
Chuadanga , Chuadanga district or Chuadanga Zilla is the name of a Western district of Bangladesh...
, where he witnessed the great flood of 1871. In 1872 he was posted to Calcutta
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, and in 1873 he was appointed Assistant Secretary to
the Bengal Government by Sir George Campbell, and later worked under Sir Richard Temple
Sir Richard Temple, 1st Baronet
Sir Richard Temple, 1st Baronet, FRS, GCSI, CIE, PC was an administrator in British India and a British politician.-Career:...
. In 1878 he became magistrate and collector at Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
; in 1880 he became Senior Secretary to the Board of Revenue in Bengal. He later became Revenue Secretary to Government, Financial and Municipal Secretary, and then a member of the Bengal Legislative Council.
Cotton eventually rose to be Chief Commissioner
Chief Commissioner
A Chief Commissioner is a commissioner of a high rank, usually in chief of several Commissioners or similarly styled officers.-Colonial:In British India the gubernatorial style was Chief Commissioner in various provinces , the style being applied especially where an elected assembly did not exist,...
of Assam
Colonial Assam
Colonial Assam refers to the period of History of Assam between the signing of the Treaty of Yandabo and Independence of India when Assam was under the British colonial rule. The political institutions and social relations that were established or severed during this period continue to have a...
(1896 to 1902), during which time he experienced the 1897 Assam earthquake. Cotton College, Guwahati
Cotton College, Guwahati
Cotton College is a premier institution for higher education located in the heart of Guwahati, Assam, a northeastern state of India.240px|right|thumb| Cotton College, the premier college of Assam-History:...
was established by him in 1901.
Cotton supported Indian Home Rule
Home Rule Movement
The All India Home Rule League was a national political organization founded in 1916 to lead the national demand for self-government, termed Home Rule, and to obtain the status of a Dominion within the British Empire as enjoyed by Australia, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and Newfoundland at the...
and served as President of Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
in 1904, being one of the few Englishmen to do so. As such, he led the opposition to Curzon
George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston
George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, KG, GCSI, GCIE, PC , known as The Lord Curzon of Kedleston between 1898 and 1911 and as The Earl Curzon of Kedleston between 1911 and 1921, was a British Conservative statesman who was Viceroy of India and Foreign Secretary...
's invasion of Tibet
British expedition to Tibet
The British expedition to Tibet during 1903 and 1904 was an invasion of Tibet by British Indian forces, whose mission was to establish diplomatic relations and trade between the British Raj and Tibet...
and partition of Bengal
Partition of Bengal (1905)
The decision of the Partition of Bengal was announced on 19 July 1905 by the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. The partition took effect on 16 October 1905...
.
Family
He was the father of H. E. A. CottonH. E. A. Cotton
Sir Harry Evan Auguste Cotton CIE was a barrister, administrator, journalist, historian and writer...
.
Through his great-grandfather Joseph Cotton
Joseph Cotton (mariner)
Joseph Cotton FRS , was an English mariner and merchant, a director of the East India Company and deputy-master of Trinity House....
(1746–1825), Henry John Stedman Cotton was a first cousin once removed
Cousin
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
of both the judge Henry Cotton
Henry Cotton (judge)
Sir Henry Cotton was a British judge. He was a Lord Justice of Appeal from 1877, when he was made a Privy Counsellor, until his retirement in 1890.-Early life:...
(his godfather, who he was named after) and of the African explorer William Cotton Oswell
William Cotton Oswell
William Cotton Oswell was an English explorer in Africa and other areas.He was born in Leytonstone, Essex and attended Rugby School. In 1837 he secured a position with the East India Company in Madras through his uncle John Cotton, who was a director of the company...
.