General Sir Arthur Thomas Cotton KCSI (15 May 1803 – 24 July 1899) was a British general and irrigation engineer.

Cotton devoted his life to the construction of irrigation and navigation canals throughout British India. His dream was only partially realized, but he is still honored in parts of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu for his efforts.Sir Arthur Cotton museum has been built in his honour in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. The museum holds approximately 100 images and 15 machine tools that Cotton used when constructing the barrage in Andhra Pradesh from 1847 to1852.

He entered the Madras Engineers in 1819, and fought in the First Burmese War. He was knighted in 1861.

An evangelist, he was the father of Elizabeth Hope.

Sir Arthur Cotton Museum was constructed here in 1998. This museum was constructed in memory of Sir Arthur Thomas Cotton, a British irrigation engineer. Sir Arthur Thomas Cotton also known as “Cotton Dora”, who constructed the Dowleswaram Barrage is revered in the Godavari Districts for his efforts in transforming River Godavari from a threatening and deadly natural force into a tame and fertile water resource. Sir Cotton is popularly known as the ‘Delta Architect’ of the Godavari District because of his pioneering works in irrigation engineering through his construction of the anicut system. The Museum narrates the construction of present Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage constructed with the advance engineering skill. It is the only civil engineering museum in the state. It contains many pictures describing the working of the dam and display of the tools used during the construction.