Merton Russell-Cotes
Encyclopedia
Sir Merton Russell-Cotes, FRGS (8 May 1835, Wolverhampton
– 27 January 1921, Bournemouth
) was Mayor of Bournemouth, England
, 1894–1895. During his Mayoralty, Meyrick Park, two free libraries, and the first two schools of art in the borough were opened.
Although his name is usually hyphenated today, there is no hyphen in his Who's Who
entry or the London Gazette entry for his knighthood, and he is described on the plaque marking the opening of the Undercliff Drive and Promenade as Cllr. Cotes, not Cllr. Russell-Cotes.
had stayed there in 1856.
to Bournemouth to avoid having to change trains at Ringwood
. He also campaigned for an Undercliff Drive to enable invalids to take a carriage drive beside the sea.
When Bournemouth became a borough in 1890, he presented the mace — a replica of that presented to Wolverhampton
by Queen Elizabeth I.
, and its contents to the people of Bournemouth.
Russell-Cotes amassed a large collection of works of art and curios. Those donated to the town are displayed in the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, Bournemouth's principal museum, which is located in East Cliff Hall and is named in his honour.
He was a friend of the actor, Sir Henry Irving
, who stayed with him on several occasions.
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
– 27 January 1921, Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
) was Mayor of Bournemouth, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, 1894–1895. During his Mayoralty, Meyrick Park, two free libraries, and the first two schools of art in the borough were opened.
Although his name is usually hyphenated today, there is no hyphen in his Who's Who
Who's Who (UK)
Who's Who is an annual British publication of biographies which vary in length of about 30,000 living notable Britons.-History:...
entry or the London Gazette entry for his knighthood, and he is described on the plaque marking the opening of the Undercliff Drive and Promenade as Cllr. Cotes, not Cllr. Russell-Cotes.
Royal Bath Hotel
He moved to Bournemouth in 1876 with his wife Annie. Soon after this, they bought the Bath Hotel. They quickly enlarged the hotel and renamed it the Royal Bath Hotel because the Prince of WalesEdward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
had stayed there in 1856.
Civic activities
Russell-Cotes was elected to the Board of Commissioners in 1883 and fought hard to enhance the town's reputation as a health resort. He called for a direct railway link from BrockenhurstBrockenhurst
Brockenhurst is a village situated in the New Forest, Hampshire, England. The New Forest is a national park and Brockenhurst is therefore surrounded by woodland that attracts thousands of visitors all year round. The nearby towns surrounding Brockenhurst are Lymington and Lyndhurst. Brockenhurst...
to Bournemouth to avoid having to change trains at Ringwood
Ringwood
Ringwood is a historic market town and civil parish in Hampshire, England, located on the River Avon, close to the New Forest and north of Bournemouth. It has a history dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, and has held a weekly market since the Middle Ages....
. He also campaigned for an Undercliff Drive to enable invalids to take a carriage drive beside the sea.
When Bournemouth became a borough in 1890, he presented the mace — a replica of that presented to Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
by Queen Elizabeth I.
Mayor of Bournemouth
Russell-Cotes was offered the mayoralty in 1893 but declined it due to temporary ill health. He became mayor in 1894, the only mayor of Bournemouth, as of 2007, who was not also a member of the council.East Cliff Hall
When Undercliff Drive opened in 1907, it was announced that Annie and Merton wanted to give their recently completed home, East Cliff HallRussell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
The Russell-Cotes Museum is an art gallery and museum in Bournemouth, England. It is located on the top of the East Cliff, next to the Royal Bath Hotel.-History and collections:...
, and its contents to the people of Bournemouth.
Russell-Cotes amassed a large collection of works of art and curios. Those donated to the town are displayed in the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, Bournemouth's principal museum, which is located in East Cliff Hall and is named in his honour.
He was a friend of the actor, Sir Henry Irving
Henry Irving
Sir Henry Irving , born John Henry Brodribb, was an English stage actor in the Victorian era, known as an actor-manager because he took complete responsibility for season after season at the Lyceum Theatre, establishing himself and his company as...
, who stayed with him on several occasions.
Freedom of the Borough
The Russell-Cotes were granted the Freedom of the Borough of Bournemouth in 1908. Russell-Cotes was knighted in 1909.Sources
- Who's WhoWho's Who (UK)Who's Who is an annual British publication of biographies which vary in length of about 30,000 living notable Britons.-History:...
, 1920.