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| The Collection > Collectors |
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| The Collectors: Introduction |
Though the vast majority of the collection was assembled by Charles Rogers in the 18th century, it is based on a collection inherited by Rogers from a family friend, William Townson (1682-1740). His main interest, beyond his career in the Custom House, had been to collect prints, drawings and books and it was these which formed the basis of Rogers collection. In turn, William Townson' s collection had been built on the residue of the estate left to him by his father Robert Townson (1640-1707), which included a small library of books, many of which survive into the library of the Cottonian Collection as it remains today.
The collection accrued by Rogers was vast when it passed to his brother-in-law William Cotton I (1731-1791) in 1784. It remained largely the same until the ownership of William Cotton II (1759-1816) who reduced it by nearly two thirds. By the time it passed to William Cotton III (1794-1863) it was therefore immeasurably easier to contain in one home. During this custonianship a number of books were added to the library as well as a number of later prints. The major addition to the collection by William Cotton III centred around the acquisition of paintings and material relating to Sir Joshua Reynolds.For further details about the Collectors please use the links below Charles Rogers  William Cotton I & II William Cotton III |
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