Person    | Male  Born 12/9/1786  Died 1/12/1866

William Cotton

William Cotton

William Cotton FRS was an inventor, merchant, philanthropist, and governor of the Bank of England 1842-5.

He helped build St John's Church Leytonstone in 1833, and 75 other churches in London. He worked to strengthen the world church through 3 volunteer societies.

He helped found King's College, London, and also the National Society (Church of England and Church in Wales) for the Promotion of Education, often just referred to as the National Society, and since 2016 also as The Church of England Education Office (CEEO).

He supported 4 London hospitals. While at the Bank he invented an automatic weighing machine for gold sovereigns. Fellow of the Royal Society from 1821.

Born Leytonstone, the son of Joseph Cotton. He lived and died at Walwood House in Leytonstone. Brother to Benjamin Cotton. Father to Agnes.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
William Cotton

Commemorated ati

Cotton family grave

Collecting gravestones is not part of our mission, but we have transcribed th...

Read More

Other Subjects

Leonard Montefiore

Leonard Montefiore

Author and philanthropist. Leonard Abraham Montefiore was born Kensington.  Grand nephew to Moses.  Was a friend of Oscar Wilde when they were both at Oxford University.  Chief assistant to Samuel ...

Person, Gender Issues, Philanthropy, USA

1 memorial
Stella, Lady Reading

Stella, Lady Reading

Philanthropist. Born Stella Charnaud in Constantinople (now Istanbul), Turkey. She is best remembered as the founder of the Women's Voluntary Services (now known as the Royal Voluntary Service). In...

Person, Philanthropy, India, Turkey, USA

1 memorial
Emery Hill

Emery Hill

Brewer and benefactor in the parish of St Margaret Westminster. In 1708 founded 12 almshouses and a school in Rochester Row on land leased from Westminster Abbey. The almshouses were consolidated w...

Person, Philanthropy

1 memorial
George Green

George Green

Shipbuilder and philanthropist. Founder of a shipyard in Blackwall, which was subsequently taken over by his three sons, Frederick, Henry and Richard. George endowed several schools in Poplar. He a...

Person, Education, Engineering, Philanthropy

2 memorials
Sir William Powell

Sir William Powell

Politician and philanthropist. Born as William Hinson circa 1624. His uncle, Sir Edward Powell, 1st Baronet of Pengethly, left him his estates on condition that he changed his name to Powell. In 16...

Person, Philanthropy, Politics & Administration

1 memorial