| Office: | Member of the European Parliament for Bristol |
| Birth Date: | 11 July 1943 |
| Birth Place: | Wellington, Somerset, England |
| Death Place: | near Treviso, Italy |
| Termstart: | 17 July 1979 |
| Party: | Conservative |
| Termend: | 24 July 1989 |
| Predecessor: | constituency established |
| Successor: | Ian White |
Richard J. Cottrell (11 July 1943 – 18 July 2024) was an English politician and author who was a Member of the European Parliament for the British constituency of Bristol from 1979 until 1989.
Richard J. Cottrell was born on 11 July 1943 in Wellington, Somerset.
In 1979, he was elected to the Parliament for the Conservative Party, and started his service on 17 July 1979. During his first term, he joined the Committee on Transport on 20 July of the same year and the Committee on Youth, Culture, Education, Information and Sport on 11 July 1980, serving on both until the Parliament adjourned on 23 July 1984.[1]
Cottrell was re-elected in 1984, again for the Conservative Party, and served until 24 July 1989. He served as a member of the committees for the Rules of Procedure, the Verification of Credencials [sic] and Immunities; the Rules of Procedure and Petitions; and the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection; and also participated in diplomatic relations with Canada and the People's Republic of China.[2]
In 1989, he lost re-election to Labour Party candidate Ian White.[3]
Cottrell died near Treviso, Italy on 18 July 2024, at the age of 81.[4]