Sir Charles Cotton, 5th Baronet

Sir Charles Cotton
Sir Charles Cotton
by Henry Hoppner Meyer
BornJune 1753
DiedFebruary 23, 1812(1812-02-23) (aged 58)
Stoke House, Plymouth
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1772–1812
RankAdmiral
CommandsLisbon Station
Mediterranean Fleet
Battles / wars

Admiral Sir Charles Cotton, 5th Baronet (June 1753 – 23 February 1812) was a senior Royal Navy officer of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars whose service continued until his death in command of the Channel Fleet from apoplexy in 1812. During his service, Cotton saw action off the Eastern Seaboard of the Thirteen Colonies and later at the Glorious First of June. Cotton's most influential service was in 1809 when he planned and executed the evacuation of thousands of British soldiers from Corunna after the disastrous collapse of the land campaign under Sir John Moore.