Education
Cotton is thought to have studied at Leiden University, possibly under Herman Boerhaave.
Cotton is thought to have studied at Leiden University, possibly under Herman Boerhaave.
Cotton specialised in the care of patients with mental health issues, maintaining an asylum known as the Collegium Insanorum, at Street Albans. William Cowper was one of his patients and held Cotton in high regard. Cotton was also a published poet, whose poems were described by Cheever as "full of good sense, benevolence, and piety" although not works of genius.
He died at Street Albans on 2 August 1788 and is buried in Saint Peter"s churchyard.