Samuel Cotes (1734–1818)   

• Was a British painter of miniature portraits.
• He was third son of Robert Cotes, mayor of Galway, who settled in London.

• He was brought up by his father for the medical profession, but was encouraged by his brother Francis Cotes's success as a painter to take up art; he received instruction from Francis.

• Cotes became known as a portrait painter; his crayon portraits were also admired.

• He painted in miniature both on enamel and on ivory, and exhibited from 1760 to 1789 at the exhibitions of the Incorporated Society of Artists, of which he was a fellow, and at the Royal Academy.

• After his brother's death he painted a large miniature of him from memory.

• Cotes was twice married, first to Mary Creswick in 1768, and secondly in 1780 to Sarah Shepherd, an artist, who died aged 76.

• Cotes retired from active life some years before his death.

• He resided in Paradise Row, Chelsea, London, where he died 7 March 1818 in his eighty-fifth year.

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