Whitworth Wilson Cotten Jr. (February 5, 1938 – September 27, 2021) was an American priest and inventor.

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Whitworth Wilson Cotten was born on February 5, 1938, in Petersburg, Virginia.^[1] His father, Whitworth W. "Whit" Cotten Sr. (1908–1985), was an engineer turned director of public works and the brother of actor Joseph Cotten.^[2] He went to Rollins College majoring in science and earned his master degree from Florida Institute of Technology majoring in advanced technologies and business administration.^[1][3]

Cotten was married to Martha DeNeen in 1965, and has had a son, Whitworth Wilson Cotten III, and a daughter, Martha-Carole Cotten.^[1][3] He also adopted DeNeen's daughter, Deneane Fitch, from her previous marriage.^[1] Their marriage lasted until DeNeen's death in May 2015.^[1] Cotten later remarried to Ellen Hamilton Cotten and remained together until his death in September 2021.^[3]

Cotten started his career by joined United States Navy and served in Japan for seven years.^[1][3] During this period, he invented electronics, engineered radio, and fiber optics.^[1] Cotten later inventing recording conversations in the jungle which then led to the end of Vietnam War.^[1][3] He then spent most of his time inventing electronic engineering.^[1]

Cotten invented a chip which were used for the moon landing and invented a high speed internet cable.^[1][3] He then worked for several industries, such as Stromberg Carlson, Harris, JDS Uniphase, and Broadband Communication Productions.^[1] He also became a fund donors at Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, the Festival of Orchestras, and Orlando Museum of Art, and actively participating in charity.^[1][3] Cotten then established a church and founded a children centre there.^[1] He focused to became an Episcopalian priest and founded Martha & Whit Cotten Christian Education Center at All Saint's Episcopal Church in Winter Park, Florida.^[3]

In 1983, Cotten became one of the inventor of circulating-air stoves created by Matthew W. Homolik and earned a patent for creating subscriber station part.^[4] He donated and became a sponsor to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and established a historical marker to honoring his uncle actor Joseph Cotten which was located at the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology on West Washington Street.^[5][6]

Cotten passed away in Orlando, Florida, on September 27, 2021, at the age of 83.^[1][3]

In 2023, Florida Institute of Technology established Whit and Martha Cotten Scholarship, using Cotten and his late wife first name, for his contribution at the institution.^[1]