As a young man Cottam is recorded to have been an ardent student of botany, astronomy and microscopy. His career was spent in the Civil Service in the Office of Woods and Forests, from which he retired in 1905. He was married and had one son, who pre-deceased him, and a daughter. In January 1875 he was one of the founder members of the Watford Natural History Society, later titled the Hertfordshire Natural History Socierty, and its first Treasurer. He contributed several papers to the Transactions including 'Our British Beetles: notes on their classification and collection' (1, 1880, pp.25-36) and 'Note on the pupation of the Stag Beetle' (ibid., pp.83-84). He was also interested in Lepidoptera, his collection being sold at Stevens' auction rooms on 7 November 1911 (Chalmers-Hunt (1976) p.151). There is an obituary notice in Ent., 45, 1912, p.48. (MD 4/02)
Dates
1837 - 23 November 1911