Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cotter, George Sackville

1354354Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 12 — Cotter, George Sackville1887Thomas Finlayson Henderson

COTTER, GEORGE SACKVILLE (1755–1831), poet and translator, was the fourth son of Sir James Cotter. He was educated at Westminster School, of which he was captain in 1770, and in 1771 he was elected to St. Peter's College, Cambridge. He graduated B.A. in 1775 and M.A. in 1779. Having taken holy orders he became vicar of Kilmacdonough, and rector of Kilcreddan-Garrivoe and Ightermorragh, diocese of Cloyne. In 1788 he published two volumes of ‘Poems,’ dedicated to Lady Shannon, and consisting of a poem in two books, entitled ‘Prospects,’ and a collection of odes and other fugitive pieces. In 1826 he published a translation of Terence for the use of schools, in the preface to which he states that when at Westminster School he had been an actor in three of Terence's comedies. In the following year he printed seven of the plays of Plautus, ‘translated literally and grammatically, and cleared of objectionable passages.’ The later years of his life were spent at Youghal, Cork, and he died in 1831. By his wife, a daughter of Bayley Rogers, physician and banker of Cork, he left, with other issue, four sons.

[Welch's Alumni Westmonasterienses, ed. 1852, pp. 383, 393, 394, 534, 536, 573; Foster's Baronetage and Knightage.]

T. F. H.