Sir Merton Russell-Cotes photographed in connection with his receipt of a knighthood in 1909
Although his name is usually hyphenated today, there is no hyphen in his Who's Who entry or the London Gazette entry for his knighthood, and he is described on the plaque marking the opening of the Undercliff Drive and Promenade as Cllr. Cotes, not Cllr. Russell-Cotes.
He moved to Bournemouth in 1876 with his wife Annie. Soon after this, they bought the Bath Hotel. They quickly enlarged the hotel and renamed it the Royal Bath Hotel because the Prince of Wales had stayed there in 1856.
Civic activitiesedit
Russell-Cotes was elected to the Board of Commissioners in 1883 and fought hard to enhance the town's reputation as a health resort. He called for a direct railway link from Brockenhurst to Bournemouth to avoid having to change trains at Ringwood. He also campaigned for 'Undercliff Drive' to enable invalids to take a carriage drive beside the sea.
When Bournemouth became a borough in 1890, he presented the mace[2]—a replica of that presented to Wolverhampton by Queen Elizabeth I.
Mayor of Bournemouthedit
Russell-Cotes was offered the mayoralty in 1893 but declined it due to temporary ill health. He became mayor in 1894.
East Cliff Halledit
When Undercliff Drive opened in 1907, it was announced that Annie and Merton wanted to give their recently completed home, East Cliff Hall, and its contents to the people of Bournemouth.
Russell-Cotes amassed a large collection of works of art and curios. Those donated to the town are displayed in the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, Bournemouth's principal museum, which is located in East Cliff Hall and is named in his honour.
He was a friend of the actor, Sir Henry Irving, who stayed with him on several occasions.
Freedom of the Boroughedit
The Russell-Cotes were granted the Freedom of the Borough of Bournemouth in 1908. Russell-Cotes was knighted in 1909.[3]
^. Bournemouth Borough Council. 19 September 2006. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 23 April 2007. Merton Russell-Cotes ... was the first and only man to become Mayor of Bournemouth whilst not being a Member of the Council.
merton, russell, cotes, frgs, wolverhampton, 1835, january, 1921, bournemouth, mayor, bournemouth, england, 1894, during, mayoralty, meyrick, park, free, libraries, first, schools, borough, were, opened, photographed, connection, with, receipt, knighthood, 190. Sir Merton Russell Cotes FRGS Wolverhampton 8 May 1835 27 January 1921 Bournemouth 1 was Mayor of Bournemouth England 1894 95 During his Mayoralty Meyrick Park two free libraries and the first two schools of art in the borough were opened Sir Merton Russell Cotes photographed in connection with his receipt of a knighthood in 1909Although his name is usually hyphenated today there is no hyphen in his Who s Who entry or the London Gazette entry for his knighthood and he is described on the plaque marking the opening of the Undercliff Drive and Promenade as Cllr Cotes not Cllr Russell Cotes Contents 1 Royal Bath Hotel 2 Civic activities 2 1 Mayor of Bournemouth 2 2 East Cliff Hall 2 3 Freedom of the Borough 3 Personal life 4 SourcesRoyal Bath Hotel editHe moved to Bournemouth in 1876 with his wife Annie Soon after this they bought the Bath Hotel They quickly enlarged the hotel and renamed it the Royal Bath Hotel because the Prince of Wales had stayed there in 1856 Civic activities editRussell Cotes was elected to the Board of Commissioners in 1883 and fought hard to enhance the town s reputation as a health resort He called for a direct railway link from Brockenhurst to Bournemouth to avoid having to change trains at Ringwood He also campaigned for Undercliff Drive to enable invalids to take a carriage drive beside the sea When Bournemouth became a borough in 1890 he presented the mace 2 a replica of that presented to Wolverhampton by Queen Elizabeth I Mayor of Bournemouth edit Russell Cotes was offered the mayoralty in 1893 but declined it due to temporary ill health He became mayor in 1894 East Cliff Hall edit When Undercliff Drive opened in 1907 it was announced that Annie and Merton wanted to give their recently completed home East Cliff Hall and its contents to the people of Bournemouth Russell Cotes amassed a large collection of works of art and curios Those donated to the town are displayed in the Russell Cotes Art Gallery amp Museum Bournemouth s principal museum which is located in East Cliff Hall and is named in his honour He was a friend of the actor Sir Henry Irving who stayed with him on several occasions Freedom of the Borough edit The Russell Cotes were granted the Freedom of the Borough of Bournemouth in 1908 Russell Cotes was knighted in 1909 3 Personal life editHe was married to Annie Russell Cotes Sources edit No 32344 The London Gazette 3 June 1921 p 4496 The Mace Bournemouth Borough Council 19 September 2006 Archived from the original on 27 September 2007 Retrieved 23 April 2007 Merton Russell Cotes was the first and only man to become Mayor of Bournemouth whilst not being a Member of the Council No 28275 The London Gazette 30 July 1909 p 5805 Who s Who 1920 nbsp nbsp This article about a mayor in England is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Merton Russell Cotes amp oldid 1170954654, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
