Sir Merton Russell-Cotes (

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8 May 1835 – 27 January 1921

Bournemouth Bournemouth () is a coastal resort town in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council area of Dorset, England. At the 2011 census, the town had a population of 183,491, making it the largest town in Dorset. It is situated on the Southern ...

) was

Mayor of Bournemouth The following were mayors of Bournemouth, Dorset, England, Before 1974, Bournemouth was in the county of Hampshire: *1890 Thomas James Hankinson the first mayor *1891 Edward Wise Rebbeck *1892 Henry Newlyn *1893 George Merriman Hirons *1894 Mer ...

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, 1894–95. During his Mayoralty,

Meyrick Park Meyrick Park () is a suburb and area of Bournemouth, Dorset. The park itself features a main field with rugby pitches, surrounded by elevated woodland on both sides and a golf course around the western side. Dog-walking is permitted on both, and ...

, two free libraries, and the first two schools of art in the borough were opened. Although his name is usually hyphenated today, there is no hyphen in his

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entry or the

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entry for his knighthood, and he is described on the plaque marking the opening of the Undercliff Drive and Promenade as Cllr. ''Cotes'', not Cllr. ''Russell-Cotes''.

Royal Bath Hotel

He moved to Bournemouth in 1876 with his wife Annie. Soon after this, they bought the Bath Hotel. They quickly enlarged the hotel and renamed it the

Royal Bath Hotel The Royal Bath Hotel is a building in Bournemouth, Dorset. It is regarded to be the towns most famous hotel. Since 1974, the hotel has been a Listed building, Grade II listed building. History George Tapps-Gervis built the hotel in 1838. The ...

because the

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had stayed there in 1856.

Civic activities

Russell-Cotes was elected to the Board of Commissioners in 1883 and fought hard to enhance the town's reputation as a health resort. He called for a direct railway link from Brockenhurst to Bournemouth to avoid having to change trains at Ringwood. He also campaigned for 'Undercliff Drive' to enable invalids to take a carriage drive beside the sea. When Bournemouth became a borough in 1890, he presented the mace—a replica of that presented to

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Mayor of Bournemouth

Russell-Cotes was offered the mayoralty in 1893 but declined it due to temporary ill health. He became mayor in 1894.

East Cliff Hall

When Undercliff Drive opened in 1907, it was announced that Annie and Merton wanted to give their recently completed home, East Cliff Hall, and its contents to the people of Bournemouth. Russell-Cotes amassed a large collection of works of art and curios. Those donated to the town are displayed in the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, Bournemouth's principal museum, which is located in East Cliff Hall and is named in his honour. He was a friend of the actor, Sir Henry Irving, who stayed with him on several occasions.

Freedom of the Borough

The Russell-Cotes were granted the Freedom of the Borough of Bournemouth in 1908. Russell-Cotes was knighted in 1909.

Personal life

He was married to Annie Russell-Cotes.

Sources

, 1920. 1835 births 1921 deaths People from Wolverhampton Mayors of places in Dorset Knights Bachelor Politicians from Bournemouth Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society Museum founders English philanthropists {{England-mayor-stub