Dictionary of Indian Biography/Cotton, Right Rev. Dr. George Edward Lynch
COTTON, RIGHT REV. DR. GEORGE EDWARD LYNCH (1813–1866)
Bishop of Calcutta and Metropolitan of India and Ceylon : son of Captain T. Cotton : born Oct. 29, 1813, his father dying about the same time : educated at Westminster, and Trinity College, Cambridge : took his degree in 1836 as a Senior Optime in mathematics, and eighth in the Classical Tripos : appointed in 1837 by Dr. Arnold to a mastership at Rugby : became Fellow of Trinity : left Rugby in 1852 to become Head Master of Marl-borough College, where he effected numerous improvements : consecrated Bishop of Calcutta on May 13, 1858 : reached Calcutta that year. He acquired universal confidence and respect besides influence with the Government, so that he was able to do much for the Church of England and for Anglo-Indian education. He succeeded in establishing schools at the chief hill stations for the education of Anglo-Indian and Eurasian children, whose parents could not afford to send them to England. He maintained his position and principles as Bishop of the Church of England, while assisting missionary work and other Christian developments. His capacity as an administrator, organizer and educator was acknowledged. He made the long tours required by the size of his metropolitan charge and the paucity of Bishops. Returning from one of them, he was drowned at Kushtia on the Gorai River in Bengal, on Oct. 6, 1866, while re-embarking on a steamer. He lost his footing on a badly constructed platform, fell into the river and disappeared. His loss was regarded as a public calamity, which the Government officially announced.