John Cotton was born in Derby, England, on 4 December 1585 and was baptized 11 days later at St. Alkmund's Church there.
He was the second of four children of Rowland Cotton, a Derby lawyer, and Mary Hurlbert, who was "a gracious and pious mother" according to Cotton's grandson Cotton Mather.
 He was educated at Derby School in the buildings which are now called the Old Grammar School, Derby, under the tutelage of Richard Johnson, a priest of the Church of England.

Cotton matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1598 as a sizar, the lowest class of paying student and requiring some financial assistance.
 He followed a curriculum of rhetoric, logic, and philosophy, and then gave four Latin disputations for an evaluation.
 He received his B.A. in 1603 and then attended Emmanuel College, Cambridge, "the most Puritan college in the kingdom", earning an M.A. in 1606 following a course of study which included Greek, astronomy, and perspective.
 He then accepted a fellowship at Emmanuel and continued with his studies for another five years, this time focusing on Hebrew, theology, and disputation; he was also allowed to preach during this time.
 An understanding of Latin was necessary for all scholars, and his study of Greek and Hebrew gave him greater insight into scripture.

Cotton became recognized for his scholarship and preaching during his time as a graduate student.
 He also tutored and worked as dean, supervising his juniors.
 Biographer Larzer Ziff calls his learning "profound" and his knowledge of languages "phenomenal".
 Cotton became famous at Cambridge when he preached the funeral sermon of Robert Some, the late Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, and he developed a large following for both his "manner and matter".
 He left the university after five years but did not receive his Bachelor of Divinity degree until 1613, following the compulsory seven-year wait after his M.A.  He was ordained as both deacon and priest of the Church of England on 13 July 1610.
 In 1612, he left Emmanuel College to become the vicar of St. Botolph's Church in Boston, Lincolnshire, described as "the most magnificent parochial edifice in the kingdom."
 He was only 27 years old, but his scholarly, vigorous, and persuasive preaching made him one of the leading Puritans in England.
John Cotton was born in Derby, England, on 4 December 1585 and was baptized 11 days later at St. Alkmund's Church there. He was the second of four children of Rowland Cotton, a Derby lawyer, and Mary Hurlbert, who was "a gracious and pious mother" according to Cotton's grandson Cotton Mather.  He was educated at Derby School in the buildings which are now called the Old Grammar School, Derby, under the tutelage of Richard Johnson, a priest of the Church of England.
Cotton matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1598 as a sizar, the lowest class of paying student and requiring some financial assistance.  He followed a curriculum of rhetoric, logic, and philosophy, and then gave four Latin disputations for an evaluation.  He received his B.A. in 1603 and then attended Emmanuel College, Cambridge, "the most Puritan college in the kingdom", earning an M.A. in 1606 following a course of study which included Greek, astronomy, and perspective.  He then accepted a fellowship at Emmanuel and continued with his studies for another five years, this time focusing on Hebrew, theology, and disputation; he was also allowed to preach during this time.  An understanding of Latin was necessary for all scholars, and his study of Greek and Hebrew gave him greater insight into scripture.
Cotton became recognized for his scholarship and preaching during his time as a graduate student.  He also tutored and worked as dean, supervising his juniors.  Biographer Larzer Ziff calls his learning "profound" and his knowledge of languages "phenomenal".  Cotton became famous at Cambridge when he preached the funeral sermon of Robert Some, the late Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, and he developed a large following for both his "manner and matter".  He left the university after five years but did not receive his Bachelor of Divinity degree until 1613, following the compulsory seven-year wait after his M.A.  He was ordained as both deacon and priest of the Church of England on 13 July 1610.  In 1612, he left Emmanuel College to become the vicar of St. Botolph's Church in Boston, Lincolnshire, described as "the most magnificent parochial edifice in the kingdom."  He was only 27 years old, but his scholarly, vigorous, and persuasive preaching made him one of the leading Puritans in England.
John Cotton (minister)