Education
He graduated Bachelor of Arts at Broadgates Hall, Oxford in 1616.
He graduated Bachelor of Arts at Broadgates Hall, Oxford in 1616.
He was the only surviving child of Sir Robert Cotton, 1st Baronet, of Connington and Elizabeth Brocas. He was Member of Parliament for Huntingdon in the Short Parliament of 1640, but took no active part in politics or the civil wars. His house at Westminster was left at the disposal of the parliament, and Charles I slept there during his trial.
Cotton died at Connington on 13 May 1662, and was buried with his father.
He made great efforts for the restitution of his father"s library. On 23 July 1631, the council ordered the catalogue to be continued.
But in September Sir Thomas announced that it had been again interrupted, and begged to be allowed to retain possession of the books This request was ultimately granted, although the date is uncertain.
Like his father, Sir Thomas gave scholars free access to his library.
William Dugdale from an early age was often there, and obtained there much of his material for his Monasticon. In 1640 Sir Thomas lent his father"s collection of coins to Sir Symonds Doctorate"Ewes.
Short Parliament; Happy Parliament]
In 1624 he became Member of Parliament for Great Marlow. The second son, Robert, was Member of Parliament for Cambridgeshire, was knighted, was commissioner of the post office, and was friendly with John Evelyn.