William Dingwall Mitchell Cotts
Encyclopedia
Sir William Dingwall Mitchell Cotts, 1st Baronet (15 July 1871 – 20 January 1932) was a Scottish businessman and Liberal
politician.
in Scotland
, the son of William Cotts. He was educated privately and at Wallace Hall Academy
. In 1901, he married Agnes Sloane who was also from Sanquhar and they had two sons and a daughter. Cotts obtained his early business training in Dumfries
and London
and went in 1895 to South Africa, where he developed important business interests, realising the potential of the Natal
coalfields and the transport and other infrastructure that was needed to support the coal and gold mining industries. He also had business interests in Britain and was sometime head of Mitchell, Cotts& Co. of London. The company traded as general merchants, owned collieries and steamships.
constituency at the 1918 general election
as a Coalition Liberal
but narrowly failed to take the seat which was won by an Independent Liberal, Dr Donald Murray
with a majority of 390 votes. Cotts fought Murray for the seat again in 1922
standing as a National Liberal
, i.e. a supporter of the David Lloyd George
. This time he won, with a majority of 939. He served as MP until 1923
but did contest any further Parliamentary elections.
Cotts was a Justice of the Peace
for the County of London
and was knighted in 1919 for services to recruiting when he was awarded the KBE
. He served on the Council of Westfield College
, University of London
Homes for Little Boys. He was created a baronet
in 1921."
for medical treatment. He was succeeded in the Cotts baronetcy
by his son William. Sir William Campbell Mitchell-Cotts (1902–1964), a barrister
contested the Forest of Dean
constituency at the 1929 general election
as a Conservative
. Mitchell-Cotts was in 1928 unpaid private secretary to Tory
politician Duff Cooper
.
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician.
Personal life and career
Cotts was born at SanquharSanquhar
Sanquhar is a town on the River Nith in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It lies north of Thornhill and west of Moffat. It is a Royal Burgh.Sanquhar is notable for its tiny post office , claimed to be the oldest working post office in the world...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the son of William Cotts. He was educated privately and at Wallace Hall Academy
Wallace Hall Academy
Wallace Hall Academy is a secondary school located in Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway in the southwest of Scotland, currently with a roll of over 600 pupils aged from 11 to 65. In 2005 it was awarded the Schools of Ambition award...
. In 1901, he married Agnes Sloane who was also from Sanquhar and they had two sons and a daughter. Cotts obtained his early business training in Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and went in 1895 to South Africa, where he developed important business interests, realising the potential of the Natal
Colony of Natal
The Colony of Natal was a British colony in south-eastern Africa. It was proclaimed a British colony on May 4, 1843 after the British government had annexed the Boer Republic of Natalia, and on 31 May 1910 combined with three other colonies to form the Union of South Africa, as one of its...
coalfields and the transport and other infrastructure that was needed to support the coal and gold mining industries. He also had business interests in Britain and was sometime head of Mitchell, Cotts& Co. of London. The company traded as general merchants, owned collieries and steamships.
Political and public life
Cotts contested the Western IslesNa h-Eileanan an Iar (UK Parliament constituency)
Na h-Eileanan an Iar is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, created in 1918. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- History :...
constituency at the 1918 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
as a Coalition Liberal
Coalition Government 1916-1922
The Coalition Government of David Lloyd George came to power in the United Kingdom in December 1916, replacing the earlier wartime coalition under H.H. Asquith, which had been held responsible for reverses during the Great War. Those Liberals who continued to support Asquith served as the Opposition...
but narrowly failed to take the seat which was won by an Independent Liberal, Dr Donald Murray
Donald Murray (Scottish politician)
Donald Murray was a Liberal Party politician in Scotland who served in the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for the Western Isles from 1918 to 1922....
with a majority of 390 votes. Cotts fought Murray for the seat again in 1922
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
standing as a National Liberal
National Liberal Party (UK, 1922)
The National Liberal Party was a liberal political party in the United Kingdom from 1922 to 1923. It was led by David Lloyd George and was, at the time, separate to the original Liberal Party.-History:...
, i.e. a supporter of the David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
. This time he won, with a majority of 939. He served as MP until 1923
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
but did contest any further Parliamentary elections.
Cotts was a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for the County of London
County of London
The County of London was a county of England from 1889 to 1965, corresponding to the area known today as Inner London. It was created as part of the general introduction of elected county government in England, by way of the Local Government Act 1888. The Act created an administrative County of...
and was knighted in 1919 for services to recruiting when he was awarded the KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
. He served on the Council of Westfield College
Westfield College
Westfield College was a small college situated in Kidderpore Avenue, Hampstead, London, and was a constituent college of the University of London from 1882 to 1989. The college originally admitted only women as students and became coeducational in 1964. In 1989, Westfield College merged with Queen...
, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
Homes for Little Boys. He was created a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1921."
Death and heir
Cotts died suddenly at the age of 60 while travelling to WalesWales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
for medical treatment. He was succeeded in the Cotts baronetcy
Cotts Baronets
The Cotts Baronetcy, of Coldharbour Wood in Rogate in the County of Sussex, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 15 June 1921 for William Cotts...
by his son William. Sir William Campbell Mitchell-Cotts (1902–1964), a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
contested the Forest of Dean
Forest of Dean (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:- See also :* List of Parliamentary constituencies in Gloucestershire...
constituency at the 1929 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1929
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
as a Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
. Mitchell-Cotts was in 1928 unpaid private secretary to Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
politician Duff Cooper
Duff Cooper
Alfred Duff Cooper, 1st Viscount Norwich GCMG, DSO, PC , known as Duff Cooper, was a British Conservative Party politician, diplomat and author. He wrote six books, including an autobiography, Old Men Forget, and a biography of Talleyrand...
.