COCKS, Charles (1725-1806), of Castleditch, Herefs.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754, ed. R. Sedgwick, 1970
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1747 - 1784

Family and Education

b. 29 June 1725, 1st s. of John Cocks, M.P., of Castleditch by his cos. Mary, da. and h. of Rev. Thomas Cocks of Castleditch. educ. Worcester, Oxf. 1742; L. Inn, 1745, called 1750. m. (1) 8 Aug. 1759, Elizabeth (d. 1 Jan. 1771), da. of Richard Eliot of Port Eliot, Cornw., 3s. 3da.; (2) 20 May 1772, Anne, da. of Reginald Pole of Stoke Damerel, Devon, 2s. 1da. suc. fa. 1771; cr. Bt. 7 Oct. 1772; Baron Somers 17 May 1784.

Offices Held

Clerk of deliveries in the Ordnance 1758-72; clerk of the Ordnance 1772-82.

Biography

Charles Cocks was returned for his family’s seat at Reigate in succession to his uncle, James Cocks, classed as a government supporter. The 2nd Lord Egmont, in his electoral survey, c.1749-50, observed that Reigate was ‘in Lord Hardwicke and Cocks’; that both Cocks and his fellow member, Charles Yorke, were ‘against us’, i.e. Leicester House; but that ‘Cocks seems to be drawing towards us and is jealous that the Chancellor is secretly false to him.’

He died 30 Jan. 1806.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes