Sir charles cotton, Bart. Admiral of the White Squadron, and late Commander-in-Chief of the Channel Fleet, was the third son of Sir John Hynde Cotton, Bart. of Madingly, and Landwade, in Cambridgeshire, by Anne, daughter of Humphrey Parsons, Esq. He was born in the month of June. 1753, and was educated at Westminster School, under the late Doctors Markham and Smith. At an early age, he made considerable progress in learning; and, previously to his leaving Westminster, in the year 1770, he had attained the highest form.

In this gentleman, as in many other distinguished officers, whose services have been recorded in the Naval Chronicle, “the ruling passion,” or propensity, displayed itself even in boyhood. While at school, that inclination which afterwards induced him to embrace the nautical profession, was strongly apparent. In every frolic and excursion upon the Thames, young Cotton was foremost; and, by that collectedness and courage which, throughout life, never forsook him, he frequently extricated himself from situations of danger, in which others would have been lost. This strong bias, however, did not lead him to oppose his father's wishes; in conformity with which, he was entered, as had been originally intended, a member of Lincoln's Inn.