Bishop George Edward Lynch Cotton was the son of an Army Captain, who died leading his Regiment in battle. A Scholar of Westminster, and graduate of Cambridge, in 1836. He was appointed Assistant Master at Rugby by Doctor Thomas Arnold, One of the founders of the British Public School System. It was the young Mr. Cotton who is spoken of as "The Model Young Master" in Thomas Hughes famous books "Tom Brown's School Days' which gives an insight to school life at Rugby.
After having taught for 15 years, at 1852 he was appointed Master of Marlborogh, where he established organized games and the House and perfect systems. He believed that the prefects are and shall be, as long as I am the Head, the governours of the school. As soon as I see this impracticable I will resign." He was consecrated Bishop at Westminster Abbey by the Archbishop of the Canterbury.
Queen Victoria personally selected Bishop Cotton as Bishop of Calcutta and Metropolitan of India, Burma and the Island of Ceylon, keeping in view the critical period in India around 1857. As Bishop of Calcutta, on 28th July, 1859 he conducted a service for the foundation of public school, the Bishop's Cotton School. He was drowned in an accident on 6th October, 1866 while touring Assam. Cotton, George Edward Lynch: 1812-66, English clergyman and educator, Grand, Trinity College, Cambride 1863. From 1837 intil 1852 he was an assistant master of Rug and is the "Young Master” in Thomas Hughe's Tom Brown School Days. He later became (Headmaster of Marlborong College and after 1858 served as Bishop of Calcutta, where he did extensive missionary work and established numerous school for Eurasian children.
George Edward Lynch, Bishop of Calcutta Autograph Letter signed G. E. L. Calcutta', to Mr. Clerk, a missionary, discussing at length the rules for evangelism in the Army, and defending the Government against the charge of interference, adding that he was forwarded extracts from Clark's letter of Lord Canning, Ravenswood, George Edward Lynch Cotton (1813-1866), Master in Marlborough Bishop of Calcutta from 1858, established a number of famous schools in India and worked closely with the MISSIONARY societies. His career was closed by the 'calamitous accident', when the Bishop's foot slipped on a platform above the Ganges at dusk on 6th October 1866. "For instance, if in an old order, (plainly not one issued with reference to these occurrence in the 24th Regt.). A captain in forbidden to go down to the Sepoy lines for the purpose of holding religious discussion with the heathen, it is an extraordinary inference to say that a missionary may not go down for the purpose of holding services for Christians.
George Edward Lynch, Bishop of Calcutta Autograph Lewe Signed 'G.E.L. Calcutta', to Beufotm thanking him for his subscription to the Hill Schools, Bishop Palace [Calcutta), July (1866 in another hand). George Edward Lynch Cotton 1866), Master of Marlborogh, Bishop of Calcutta from established a number of famous schools in India and closely with the missionary societies.