He was a partner and eventually the head of Culverwell, Brooks, Cotton & Company, leather, hide and tallow brokers, based in the City of London. In 1866 he became alderman for Lime Street Ward on the Corporation of London. In 1868 he was Sheriff of London and Middlesex. He was a member of four livery companies: the Haberdashers, the Saddlers the Turners and the Fan Makers. At the 1868 general election he was Conservative candidate for the Southwark constituency, but failed to be elected. He died after a long illness at his home in Bramham Gardens, Earl's Court. The Wikipedia page is [1].