Background
He was born in Saint James"s, Westminster, 15 October 1711.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
William Cooke
Edit Profilecleric scholars vice-chancellor of
Education
He graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1735.
Career
He was sent to Harrow School in 1718, and then Eton College in 1721. In 1731 he became a scholar, and in 1734 a Fellow, of King"s College, Cambridge. Soon after graduating Cooke became an assistant-master at Eton.
In May 1743 he was unanimously elected head-master, but found his health too weak for the place, and in 1745 took the college living of Sturminster-Marshall, Dorset.
In 1748 he was elected fellow of Eton College, and resigned Sturminster on being presented to the rectory of Denham, Buckinghamshire. He was also bursar of Eton.
In 1765 he proceeded Doctor of Divinity, and was appointed chaplain to George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax. In 1768 he accepted the rectory of Stoke Newington.
On 25 March 1772 Cooke was unanimously elected Provost of King"s College, Cambridge.
He was vice-chancellor of the university in 1773. In April 1780 he received a prebend in Ely Cathedral, and on 9 August was appointed to the deanery. Cooke died at Bath 20 October 1797.
The eldest daughter Elizabeth Anne married Benjamin Way.
The second daughter, Catherine, married Samuel Hallifax, whose epitaph was written by Cooke. Another son, William Cooke, was fellow of King"s College, Cambridge, professor of Greek at Cambridge from 1780 to 1792, and rector of Hempstead-with-Lessingham, Norfolk, from 1785 till his death, 3 May 1824.
