Cotton was a pirate who operated in the Caribbean during the Age of Piracy, most notably during the mid-18th century. Little is known about his early life. Prior to joining the crew of the Black Pearl, Cotton had his tongue cut out, due to an encounter with Mungard. He subsequently trained his loyal parrot to speak for him -- though how he achieved such a feat, as a mute, remains unknown. It's unknown what happened to him since At World's End but his parrot can be seen in the bottle where the Black Pearl was trapped at in On Stranger Tides.
Cotton first appears in a motley crew where Jack Sparrow talks to him, but receives no response. Joshamee Gibbs explains that the reason why he is unable to talk is because his tongue was cut, so he had his pet parrot talk to him. Jack and the motley crew board the HMS Interceptor and while onboard, Cotton and the other crewmen sailed during a storm until the crew arrives at Isla de Muerta, where Jack Sparrow and Will Turner explored alone. During a battle between the Interceptor and the Black Pearl, Cotton loaded cannons with everything of what is inside the ship to fight back against the Pearl. Cotton survived the fight, but was later taken prisoner with the other crewmen. Elizabeth Swann managed to rescue him and the motley crew, but they refuse to help rescue Jack. However, the motley crew rescues Jack from the gallows.
Years later, Jack ordered the motley crew to seek for land and avoid the Kraken summoned under command of Davy Jones by looking for land. The Pearl arrived at Pelegostos where the crew members of the Pearl were in bony cages, to which Cotton and several other crew members escape from the cannibalistic tribe with help from Will Turner. Furthermore, Cotton's parrot returned to his master as the motley crew escaped from Pelegostos with help from Pintel and Ragetti.
Onboard the Flying Dutchman, Cotton joined Jack's quest to find the Dead Man's Chest where the crew received advice from Tia Dalma in her shack and an offer from Davy Jones. Jack then arrived at Tortuga to settle the debt from Davy Jones in order to complete the offer, which lead to a battle with James Norrington who joined the crew. After surviving Isla Cruces, Cotton participates during battle against the Kraken to which Jack sacrifices himself to save the crew, making Cotton one of the few survivors of the Pearl.
Back with Tia Dalma, Cotton's parrot tells his master to go to World's End by finding Jack Sparrow and returning him from Davy Jones' Locker.
Cotton and the rest of Jack's crew arrive at Singapore, planning to steal the Mao Kun Map and acquire a ship and a crew. As Cotton's parrot remained with Tia Dalma on the streets of Singapore, Cotton and the other crew arrived at Sao Feng's bath house. After taking out a boiler room attendant and tying up one of his assistants, Cotton controlled the steam controls. Later, a large group of EITC soldiers arrived and prepared to attack under orders of Ian Mercer. The crew manages to escape the ambush as the group boards a new ship, the Hai Peng.
On board the Hai Peng, Cotton and the crew reach World's End where he and the rest of the crew arrive at Davy Jones' Locker, where the Pearl was on a mountaintop carried by Tia Dalma's crabs and the crew finally reunites with Jack Sparrow who resumes his position as the captain. Finally reuniting with Jack and escaping from Davy Jones' Locker, the crew arrives on an island where the crew found out that the Kraken is already dead. During a mutiny on the island, Cotton was held hostage to which Sao Feng saw the Empress from a distance to which he, Tai Huang, and his men arrive on the ship. When Jack questioned when anyone came rescue him, Cotton raised his hand to which he agreed of what Jack questioned. He later attended the meeting at the Brethren Court with other members of Jack's crew.
When the EITC's ships arrive, Cotton's parrot flies away discovered the size of the fleet. He later participated in battle at the maelstrom where Cotton remained on the Pearl, sailing past the ship. During battle, Cotton fought against some of Davy Jones' crewmen to which Cotton took the helm, but crashed onto the other ship. Cotton, however, survived, along with his parrot who reunited back to his master after Davy Jones was defeated. With Davy Jones defeated, the Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchman Fire their cannons against the HMS Endeavour, destroying the ship to which Cotton and the rest of the pirates celebrate their freedom from the EITC. Cotton later remained as a crewman, this time under Barbossa's command.
Though he doesn't appear, Barbossa mention that the Black Pearl and almost everyone was said to have went down, but it's later reveal that the Pearl was placed in a bottle and his parrot is shown to be alive as well. It is unknown he was killed when the Pearl was attack before being shrunk or he survived.
Trivia[]
Cotton speaks in the short film, Tales of the Code: Wedlocked. This short shows part of an encounter he has with Mungard, played by Christopher Rocha, in which Mungard shoots the pirate code when trying to shoot the Auctioneer and says he'll have the tongue of anyone who mentions him doing so. Cotton says "Mum's the word", but it can be inferred that he spoke about it and that is how he lost his tongue.
Disney Fanon Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Cotton.
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Short Films:Tales of the Code: Wedlocked Books:Jack Sparrow prequel novels • Pirates of the Caribbean: Legends of the Brethren Court • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom • Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: The Visual Guide Video Games:Pirates of the Caribbean • The Legend of Jack Sparrow • Pirates of the Caribbean Online • Disney Universe • Kingdom Hearts II • Pirates of the Caribbean Multiplayer Mobile • LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End • Pirates of the Caribbean (pinball) • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest • Pirates of the Caribbean: Master of the Seas • Disney Infinity • Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War • Disney Heroes: Battle Mode • Kingdom Hearts III • Disney Sorcerer's Arena • Sea of Thieves: A Pirate's Life • Disney Speedstorm
Entertainment:Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial • Eye of the Storm: Captain Jack's Stunt Spectacular • Fantasmic! • Pirates Summer Battle "Get Wet!" Restaurants:The Beak and Barrel • Blue Bayou Restaurant • Pintel & Ragetti's Grub to Grab • The Snackin’ Kraken • Tortuga Tavern • Tortuga Treats Shops:Doubloon Market • Jolly Gypsy • Pirates League • Pirate Treasure Fireworks:Celebrate the Magic • Disney Enchantment • Disney Movie Magic • Fantasy in the Sky • Happily Ever After • Ignite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light • Magic, Music and Mayhem • The Magic, the Memories, and You! • Remember... Dreams Come True • World of Color Halloween:Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween Parade • Pirates of the Caribbean Ghost Trail • The Nightmare Experiment
Dead Man's Chest:Davy Jones • Cutler Beckett • Ian Mercer • Tia Dalma • Kraken • Bootstrap Bill • Maccus • Clanker • Penrod • Angler • Ratlin • Koleniko • Hadras • Palifico • Ogilvey • Crash • Wyvern • Greenbeard • Jimmy Legs • Leech • Bellamy • Prison Ravens • Pelegostos Tribe At World's End:Sao Feng • Tai Huang • Lian and Park • Steng • Eduardo Villanueva • Sri Sumbhajee • Capitaine Chevalle • Ammand the Corsair • Jocard • Mistress Ching • Captain Teague • Morey • Greitzer • Davy Jones' Locker Crabs On Stranger Tides:Angelica • Blackbeard • Philip Swift • Syrena • Garheng • Salaman • Scrum • Derrick • Ezekiel • Gunner • Quartermaster • Cook • Marina • Mermaids • Tamara • Spaniard • King Ferdinand • King George II • John Carteret • Henry Pelham • Redcoats Dead Men Tell No Tales:Captain Salazar • Lesaro • Henry Turner • Carina Smyth • Uncle Jack • Scarfield • Shansa • Mayor Dix • Ghost Sharks • Ghost Seagulls Attraction:Redd • Auctioneer • Pirate Captain • Captain X • Prison Dog • Seedy Prisoners • Hook Hand Pirate • Skeleton Helmsman • Barker Bird • Beacon Joe • The Pooped Pirate • Maiden in barrel • Cat in pescado barrel • Old Bill • Shy Albert • Carlos • Fortune Red • Captain Gore • Jean Lafitte • Tom Sawyer • Carlos' Wife • Skeleton Pillager • Skeleton Pirate Captain • Treasure Skeleton • Pirate Robber • Treasure Octopus • Hungry Pirate • Scalawag • Coote • Thurl • Billie How • Taliban Pirate • Pirate Assistant • Captive Guards • Treasure Pirates • Sword Skeleton Pirate • Treasure chest Skeleton Pirate holder • Hook Hand Skeleton Pirate • Alligators Video Games:Black Barty • Jolly Roger Books:Montezuma • James the Mysterious • Arabella Smith • Silver Cameos and Crossover characters:Captain Blackbeard • Captain Hook • Mr. Smee
Organizations
Crew of the Black Pearl • Cursed Crew • Crew of the Flying Dutchman • East India Trading Company • Brethren Court • Spaniard's crew • Blackbeard's Zombie Officers • Crew of the Silent Mary • Crew of the Wicked Wench
Locations
Isla Tesoro • Dead Man's Cove • Blue Bayou Lagoon • Port Royal, Jamaica • Fort Charles • Tortuga • Rumrunner's Isle • Isla de Muerta • Pelegostos • Isla Cruces • Pantano River • Singapore • Sao Feng's Bathhouse • Davy Jones' Locker • Shipwreck Cove • London, England • Spain • The Captain's Daughter • Whitecap Bay • Unnamed Island • Fountain of Youth • Saint Martin • Poseidon's Tomb
Ships/Boats
Wicked Wench • Black Pearl • Flying Dutchman • Queen Anne's Revenge • HMS Interceptor • HMS Dauntless • HMS Endeavor • Jolly Mon • Silent Mary • The Sailing Ship Columbia
Objects
Jack Sparrow's hat • Jack Sparrow's sword • Jack Sparrow's compass • Cursed Treasure • Treasure of Cortés • Elizabeth Swann's gold medallion • Ragetti's wooden eye • Jar of Dirt • Davy Jones' pipe organ • Key to the Dead Man's Chest • Dead Man's Chest • Mao Kun Map • Pirata Codex • Jack Sparrow's Pirate Beads • Sword of Triton • Jack Sparrow Voodoo Doll • Chalices of Cartagena • Dark Magic • Voodoo • Davy Jones and Calypso's Lockets • Trident of Poseidon
Music
"Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" • Theme park soundtrack • Soundtrack Treasures Collection • Pirates of the Caribbean and Other Villains • Swashbuckling Sea Songs • 1966 soundtrack • The Medallion Calls • He's a Pirate • Pirates Remixed • Hoist the Colours • My Jolly Sailor Bold
See Also
Pirates of the Caribbean Trading Card Game • Liar's Dice • Pirates of the Scareibbean • Swashbucklers • Calypso's Maelstrom
