Cotton, William, Dd

Cotton, William, D.D.

an English prelate of the first part of the 17th century, was born in London, educated at Queen's College, Cambridge, preferred by Elizabeth to be archdeacon of Lewes and canon residentiary of St. Paul's, and consecrated bishop of Exeter November 12, 1598. He is credited by Fuller with having plucked up the seeds of nonconformity sowed in his diocese by Snape, of Jersey. He died of apoplexy, in 1621. He was father of Edward Cotton, D.D. See Fuller, Worthies of England (ed. Nuttall), 2:358.