Cotton was a major in the Nantwich volunteers in 1797 and 1803. He had to sell his Welsh estates for about £390,000 as he was in debt through extravagance and bad management. He died aged 70 on 24 August 1809. Cotton and his wife Frances had the following children: Robert-Salusbury (born 11 September 1768), died without issue Stapleton (1773–1865), 6th baronet, elevated to the peerage as a Viscount and Baron Combermere William (died 16 June 1853), took holy orders Lynch, colonel in the army; died in the East Indies in 1799 Frances (1 December 176926 November 1818), married Robert Needham, 11th Viscount Kilmorey (1746–1818) on 10 January 1792 Penelope (31 December 1770 – 1786) Hester-Maria (died 20 March 1845) Sophia (died 24 May 1838), married Sir H. M. Mainwaring, Bart, of Over Peover, Chester References ThePeerage.com Bibliography 1730s births 1809 deaths People educated at Westminster School, London Alumni of Trinity Hall, Cambridge Cotton, Sir Robert, 5th Baronet Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies British MPs 1780–1784 British MPs 1784–1790 British MPs 1790–1796 Fellows of the Royal Society