Charles McClintock Cotton

Charles McClintock Cotton was born on 20th June 1821 in Woodford, Essex, the son of Joseph Cotton and Anne Maria Lane. He married Elizabeth Hicks on 18th November 1851 and they had two or three daughters and one son. Elizabeth died at sea while returning to the UK in 1870. He joined the East India Company as Cornet in the 10th Bengal Light Cavalry in 1842 and participated in the Gwalior Campaign and Battle of Maharajpoor in 1843. His regiment, stationed at Ferozepore, remained loyal when the Mutiny broke out in May 1857 but was disarmed in July 1857 as a precautionary measure. He joined the 2nd Bengal European Light Cavalry in 1858, soon to be renamed the 2nd Bengal European Cavalry, as captain but with his seniority dated to 23rd November 1856. In 1862 the regiment was renamed the 20th Hussars and this completed its transfer to the British Army. In 1872 the regiment left India for the UK and was stationed at Colchester, Aldershot and then Brighton. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 30th June 1873. Appointed Colonel 30th April 1878 he moved soon after to the Brigade Depot in Brecon, finally retiring on 8th July 1880 as a Major General. On 7th December 1872 he married Emma Eliza Bingley at Greenford. She died 20th December 1894 and he died 18th February 1900 and was buried at St. Andrews, Rochford, Essex. The photo of Lt-Col Cotton in undress patrol jacket is from a group photo of officers of the 20th Hussars taken at Umballa, India in 1871. The date must be correct as the regiment left India in 1872. Cotton sits in the middle of the group in the assumed attitude of commanding officer. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in 1873 so this photo shows him commanding the 20th as a major, in which case he should have an embroidered star badge on each side of his collar. Only field officers had rank badges on undress jackets. Image Courtesy of The British Library

This coloured portrait is a painting on China which has not retained the blue colour of his uniform very well. He is in dress uniform in the rank of lieutenant-colonel. The medal is for the Gwalior campaign inscribed with the date 29th Dec in the centre and the wording MAHARAJPOOR 1843 encircling it. We are grateful to Ben Giffard for providing the information and pictures.

This photo of Charles McClintock Cotton in civilian clothes was probably taken in 1860.

Regimental Details | Commanding Officers