Bishop Cotton School, Shimla, was established in 28 July 1859 by Bishop George Edward Lynch Cotton. It was founded with the aim of providing quality education to the children of British officers and Indian aristocracy. Over the years, it has evolved into one of India's premier boarding schools, renowned for its academic excellence and holistic development approach.

As Bishop of Calcutta, on the 28th July 1859, Cotton conducted a service for the foundation of a public school at a hill station. Collections were made in most of the churches of the Diocese for this purpose. These funds were used to found the Bishop’s School at Jutogh, Shimla.

The land and the buildings on it were a gift from the Viceroy. Three private houses were purchased by Bishop Cotton, out of the India Public School Fund, and the school opened for students on the 15th March 1863. Though mentioned in correspondence as the Shimla Public School, it never actually bore this name.