Background
Cook was born at Whitechapel, the son of Edward Cook of Crix, Hatfield Peverel, Essex and his wife Anne Rider.
Cook was born at Whitechapel, the son of Edward Cook of Crix, Hatfield Peverel, Essex and his wife Anne Rider.
He was educated at City of London School, and at University College, London, where he studied theoretical and analytical chemistry.
In 1865, he became a member for Poplar at the Metropolitan Board of Works. He was chairman of the unsuccessful London Riverside Fish Market Company of Shadwell, Honorary Treasurer of Society of Chemical Industry, and a Conservator of River Lea. He was also Fellow of the Chemical Society, a Justice of the Peace for Middlesex and was described as an advanced Liberal.
Cook married firstly Edith Piper in 1860, and secondly Ellen Leonard of Clifton, Bristol in 1873.
He died of a cerebral hemorrhage at his residence, Woodford House, Woodford Green, Essex, in August 1898 aged 62.
23rd United Kingdom Parliament]
he was elected at the 1885 general election as Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for West Ham North, but lost the seat in the 1886 general election.