Family and Education

bap. 17 Dec. 1684, 1st s. of Sir George Cooke, 3rd Bt.*  educ. Clare, Camb. 1703.  m. c.1712 (with £8,000), Priscilla (d. 1731), da. and coh. of Robert Squire*, 2s. 3da.  suc. fa. as 4th Bt. 18 Oct. 1732.1

Offices Held

Biography

Cooke’s family came from the Doncaster area where his family’s seat ‘lies low by the river side’. He stood together with Willoughby Hickman* as a Tory candidate for East Retford in 1710, but was defeated. Seated on petition on 11 Jan. 1711, he was included among the ‘worthy patriots’ who in the first session of the new Parliament helped to detect the mismanagements of the previous ministry, and was also a member of the October Club. He was not, however, an active Member. On 18 June 1713 he voted against the French commerce bill. Cooke did not stand in the 1713 election and it was not until 1732 that he succeeded his father to the baronetcy. He died at the Hotwells, near Bristol, on 25 Oct. 1734.2

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Authors: Eveline Cruickshanks / Stuart Handley

Notes

• 1. NRA Rep. 9996 (Cooke of Wheatley), p. 232; HMC Var. viii. 259; Gent. Mag. 1734, p. 703.
• 2. HMC Var. viii. 259.