Arthur Edward Cogswell [also known as A. E. Cogswell] was born the son of a wood carver in Peterborough Northamptonshire, England on 26 February 1858. He moved with his family to Portsmouth in 1871 and was articled to George Rake (1829-1883) in Portsea, Hampshire in 1874. He remained with him as his assistant until 1885 when he established his own practice in Portsmouth, Hampshire. From 1885 he was in partnership with Rake as Rake & Cogswell and subsequently with Rake's son. In the 1920s Cogswell was in partnership with his own sons, Victor Gordon Cogswell (1891–1969) and Douglas Rupert Cogswell (1893–1979) as A. E. Cogswell and Sons in Portsmouth.
He was a Member of the Society of Architects (MSA) and was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1911 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1925.
His address was given as Ordnance Row, Poretsea, Hampshire in 1896; Sunnicote, London Road, North End, Portsmouth, Hampshire 1911; and Prudential Buildings, Portsmouth Hampshire in 1911 and 1933. He died in Portsmoth, Hampshire on 8 October 1934
Seven public elementary schools In Portsmouth (1880-1912); Estate developments in Portsmouth (1880-1923); Church Path School, Portsmouth (1878); Highland Road School, portsmouth (1892); Francis Avenue Schools (1895); Turret Hotel (Lennox Mansions), Portsmouth (1896); Talbot Hotel, Goldsmith Avenue, Portsmouth (1897); Avenue Hotel, Twyford Avenue, Portsmouth (1897); Pelham Hotel, Chichester Road, Portsmouth (1897); The Rutland Arms, Francis Avenue, Portsmouth (1898); he Ship Anson public house, The Hard. Portsmouth (1900); Graham Arms public house, George St, Portsmouth (1900); Byron Arms public house, Queens Road, Portsmouth (1900); The Mermaid public house, New Road, Portsmouth (1900); Carnegie Library, Fratton Road, Portsmouth (1905); extensive alterations and additions at the Workhouse Infirmary, Portsmouth (1908); Lord Chichester pub, Chichester Road, Portsmouth (1909); Tangier public house, Tangier Road, Portsmouth (1912); Shepherds Crook public house (1912); St Saviours' Church, Twyford Avenue, Portsmouth (1913); two churches and church alterations and restorations, St. Mark's and All Saints', Portsmouth (1914-15); Portsmouth Asylum and Portsmouth Hospital (1921-22); The Mars public house, Church Path North, Poretsmouth (1923); The Florist public house, Fratton Road, Portsmouth (1924); The Barleymow public house, Castle Road, Portsmouth (19824); New Pumping Station, Havant, for Portsmouth Waterworks Co. (1924-25); Coach and Horses public house, Hilsea, Portsmouth (1929); St Nicholas' Church, Battenburg Avenue, Portsmouth (1929); and Synagogue, The Thicket, Southsea (1930)
In all, Cogswell designed thirty-seven new public houses in Portsmouth ; over 300 alterations to licensed premises; and much brewery work between 1885- 1923.
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