English Naval Officer: Andrew Cotton

Andrew Cotton served in the English navy, starting with the latter 17th Century. On 20 July 1677, the King appointed him to command the Experiment sloop. A few months later, on 16 January 1678 (they called it 1677, in the old style), the King appointed him to command the Hound sloop. A year later, on 15 February 1678, the Commissioners appointed him to command the double-hulled Chatham. A year and a half later, the Commissioners appointed him to command the 6th Rate Fanfann. On 20 October 1681, the Commissioners appointed him to command the Monmouth yacht. On 20 February 1683 (they called it 1682, in the old style), the Commissioners appointed him to command the Navy yacht. Finally, on 24 March 1685 (again, in the old style, they called the year 1684), the King reappointed him to command the Navy yacht. He fought in the Battle of Barfleur, in 1692, where he commanded the 3rd Rate Northumberland (70 guns) in the Blue Squadron. Sources:

1. William Laird Clowes, The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to the Present, Vol.II, 1898
2. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903