Cotton, Sir Henry

Sir Henry Cotton, in full Sir Thomas Henry Cotton, (born January 26, 1907, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, England—died December 22, 1987, London), preeminent British golfer in the decades following World War I.

Cotton was encouraged by his father to play golf, and, after being coached by John Henry Taylor, he became a full-time professional golfer in 1926. His first win of the Open Championship (British Open) in 1934 ended a decade of American victories in that major tournament. He won the tournament again in 1937 and 1948. He also won 11 European Open championships, and he represented Great Britain in Ryder Cup competition four times.

Conspicuously ambitious and intelligent, Cotton was a compelling personality who contributed enormously to elevating the status of the professional golfer in Great Britain. After his retirement he taught and wrote numerous books and articles on golf, including Studying the Golf Game (1964), A History of Golf (1973), and Thanks for the Game (1980). He was awarded a knighthood posthumously.