Charles Cotton

Excerpt from The Necrology of Harvard College, 1869-1872, p. 16:

1808—CHARLES COTTON, M.D., was born at Plymouth, Mass., 7 October, 1788, and was the son of Rositer Cotton, M.D., and of Priscilla (Jackson) Cotton. He graduated with his class in 1808 ; studied medicine with James Thatcher, M.D., of his native town ; entered the United-States Navy as surgeon, in 1812, and served in that capacity till his resignation in 1823. He was on board the United-States ship " Hornet " during her engagement with the British man-of-war " Peacock," and is said to have been threatened with arrest by Commodore Bainbridge, his commander, for excessive self-exposure during the contest. He was on board the " Constitution," when she conveyed our minister, Mr. Jay, to France. He was afterwards stationed at the Charlestown (Mass.) Navy Yard, and had charge, still later, of the Naval Hospital in Newport, R.I. This was in 1817 ; and he married during that year Mary, eldest daughter of Captain Stephen J. Norman, of Newport. After his resignation (in 1823), he remained in Newport, occupied as a physician, surgeon, and druggist, until his death, which took place 3 February, 1870. He had been subject, for many years, to palpitation of the heart, and finally died of this disease.

Dr. Cotton had in all fourteen children, six of whom, with his wife, survive him. His only surviving son, William H. Cotton, is his successor in business. Another son, not now liv

ing (Stephen Rositer Cotton), was for a time one of the judges of the Wisconsin Circuit Court. Dr. Cotton was a member of the Masonic order, of the Rhode Island Historical Society, and of the Pilgrim Society of Massachusetts. He delivered the oration at Plymouth, when a portion of the "rock" was removed from its original position to the grounds of the society. An obituary notice of him appeared in " Newport (R.I.) Mercury " of 5 February, 1870.