Robert Langton Cole was born in London, England in 1858. He was articled to his father, John Jenkins Cole (1815-1897) in London from 1874 to 1877 and remained with him as his assistant until 1888. He also attended classes at the Architectural Association Schools in London from 1880 to 1883 and studied at University College, London. He qualified as an architect in 1889 and was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) later that year.
Cole commenced independent practice as an architect in Sutton, Surrey in 1888 and was in partnership with Edweard Thomas Perrott (1846-1914) from 1888 to 1890, He was architect to the Stock Exchange in London from 1890 to 1925. He was also appointed architect to the National Hospital for the Paralysed in 1892 and architect to the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1907. Cole was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1902. He died in Sutton, Surrey on 27 May 1928.
The Stock Exchange, London, alterations and additions, 1890 to 1914; rebuilding of No. 26, Austin Friars, 1901; Rational Hospital for the Paralysed and Epileptic, Queen Square, Bloomsbury; Convalescent Home at Finchley; Jubilee alterations, opened by King Edward VII., 1909, New ward and other alterations. 1884 to 1914; City of London Hospital for Diseases of the Chest, alterations and additions, 1890-1904; Nurses' Home, 1894; Metropolitan Association for Improvise the Dwellings of the Industrious Classes, alterations and new buildings, 1892-1912; Stock Exchange Rifle Club, Borer's Passage, 1904; the Acland Memorial Home, Oxford, new operating theatre alterations and additions, 1904 to 1914. Residence, Warneford Place, Wilts, 1904; alterations at Tregothnan, Truro, 1905; Radley Coll., Abingdon, alterations and additions, 1907-09; Royal Albert Hall London. alterations, &c, 1908-14; Livingstone Hospital, Dartford, New Ward block, 1910; St. Mary's Coll., Paddington, alterations, 1910-12; factory buildings at Hayes and Finsbury, 1911-12.
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001