Thomas Cottam

Thomas Cottam (1549 – 30 May 1582) was an English Catholic priest from Lancashire who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I. He was a member of the Jesuit order.

Life

Cottam was born to Protestant parents, Laurence Cottam of Dilworth and his wife Anne née Brewer. Thomas studied at Brasenose College, Oxford, and received his M.A. on 14 July 1572 after which he left for London, where he became master of a grammar school. It was there that he met Thomas Pounde and was converted to Catholicism. This led to Cottam's decision to head to Douai to become a priest.

From there Cottam went to the English College, Rheims, considering himself accepted for India, if his health improved after a visit to England. He was ordained around 28 May 1580, at Soissons and left on 5 June with four companions for England. Betrayed by Sledd, he was immediately arrested at Dover. Through a ruse worked by Dr.Humphrey Ely, one of his fellow travellers, Cottam reached London safely; however, the good deed put Ely at risk, and Cottam voluntarily surrendered himself. Cottam was arraigned with Edmund Campion and others and on 16 November 1581, he was sentenced to death. His execution was deferred until 30 May 1582, when he was executed at Tyburn.