Mary Aylwin Cotton was born on 1 August 1902 in the Isle of Man. Her father, Robert Marshall, was a medical doctor and Molly, following his profession, attended the London School of Medicine For Women and became a Clinical Assistant at St. Mary's and Great Ormond Street hospitals. In 1928, she married Dr. Thomas Cotton, a distinguished Canadian cardiologist, and retired from medical practice.

During the next years, Molly became dedicated to archaeology; she was an Assistant Director to Mortimer Wheeler at Maiden Castle and also Director of other excavations. In 1936, and one of the first group ever to do so, Molly took the Post-graduate Diploma at the newly founded Institute of Archaeology, University of London. 

She served in the Ministry of Economic Warfare and the Foreign Office staff during the war and in 1946 was awarded the O.B.E. From 1948, Molly Cotton was again active in British archaeology and after 1965, when her husband died, she went to live in Rome, becoming increasingly interested in Italian prehistory. She was a most faithful friend to the British School at Rome, playing a major part in many of their excavations.

Molly achieved distinction in many spheres of life and she will be remembered with deep affection. After a lifetime of giving encouragement and support to others, in 1971 Molly started the Dr. M. Aylwin Cotton Foundation, funded it and devoted much of her wisdom and energy to it during her last years. 

The Foundation is dedicated to the advancement of learning and education by furthering the study of archaeology, architecture, history, language and art of the Mediterranean area. It was Molly's wish that the Foundation should continue after her death and, when she died in 1984, apart from some gifts, she bequeathed her monies to the Cotton Foundation. 

The Foundation is a Guernsey Channel Islands Charity and each year the Trustees award Fellowships and Publication Grants, seeking the advice of a Consultative Committee.

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