COTMAN, Henry Edmund
Henry Edmund Cotman was born at 10 Lower Brunswick Street, Islington, London on 9 February 1844, son of his namesake Henry Edmund Cotman (14 October 1800-27 May 1871), a silk mercer, and his wife Maria Taylor (1813-1895), third daughter of the late William Taylor of Mattishall, Norfolk who married at St Andrew's Church, Norwich on 23 January 1842. Henry the elder was a younger brother of Norwich school artist John Sell Cotman (16 May 1782-24 July 1842). Young Henry was a brother of Frederick George Cotman and of Thomas William Cotman. When Henry was young, the family moved to Ipswich and in 1851, 7-year-old Henry was staying with his widowed aunt, 62-year-old Ann Roe, at London Road, Ipswich, also living with them was Ann's brother, 64-year-old Edmund Cotman, an annuitant, who was born at Norwich. Young Henry also studied at Ipswich School of Art and in February 1900, won first prize for his painting from still life, the runner up being Sylvia Packard. In 1883 Henry moved to 7 Northgate Street, Ipswich, an assistant to his brother, architect Thomas William Cotman and the brothers were still living there in 1911, when Henry was a 'retired engineer'. Henry Edmund Cotman died at Harland House, Undercliff Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk on 9 December 1914, aged 70, he was unmarried and left his effects to his brothers Thomas William and Frederick George.