Sir John Hynde Cotton, 3rd Baronet (bapt. 7 April 1686 – 4 January 1752) was an English landowner and Tory politician who sat in the British House of Commons from 1708 to 1752. British historian Eveline Cruickshanks called him "one of the most zealous Jacobites in England".
Contents
Early life
Cotton was baptized on 7 April 1686, the eldest and only surviving son of Sir John Cotton, 2nd Baronet, of Landwade and Madingley Hall, Cambridgeshire who had been MP for Cambridge. He was educated at Westminster School and was admitted at Emmanuel College, Cambridge on 29 September 1701 and awarded MA in 1705. He succeeded to the baronetcy and Madingley Hall on the death of his father on 15 January 1713. He adopted the surname of Hynde Cotton in deference to the Hynde family, traditional owners of the Hall: his paternal grandfather, the first Baronet, had married into the Hynde family.
Politics
Cotton was returned as the Member of Parliament for Cambridge for 1708–1722 followed by terms as the member for Cambridgeshire for 1722–1727, Cambridge again for 1727–1741 and Marlborough for 1741–1752. A High Tory, he was appointed vice-president of the Loyal Brotherhood which was established in 1709.
After an MP deserted the Tories and made a speech loyal to Sir Robert Walpole, Cotton criticised him to Walpole, saying "That young dog promised that he would always stand by us". Sir Robert replied: "I advise my young men never to use always". "Yet", said Cotton, stammering, "you yourself are very apt to make use of all ways".