COTTON, GEORGE EDWARD LYNCH English educationist and divine, was born at Chester on Oct. 2g, 1813. He was educated at Westminster school, and at Trinity college, Cambridge. He graduated B.A. in 1836, and became an assistant-master at Rugby. Here he worked devotedly for 15 years, inspired with Arnold's spirit, and heartily entering into his plans and methods. He became head master at Marlborough college in 1852, and in his six years of rule raised it to a high position. In 1858 Cotton was offered the see of Calcutta, which, after much hesitation about quitting Marlborough, he accepted. Cotton established schools for British and Eurasian children, did much to improve the position of the chaplains, and was unwearied in missionary visitation. On Oct. 6, 1866, he was drowned at Kushtea on the Ganges.
A memoir of his life with selections from his journals and corre spondence, edited by his widow, was published in 187i.