BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR OF THE LATE CAPTAIN JOHN COOKE, WHO FELL IN THE ACTION OFF TRAFALGAR. "WEEPING PITY BADE HER SORROWS TELL DR. HALLORAN's Battle of Trafalgar. TO the distinguished names of Nelson and Duff, heroes who fought and fell in the ever-memorable Battle of Trafalgar, we now add that of Cooke, another of those lamented officers, whose fame will be cherished and revered, "while memory shall hold her seat on this distracted globe." Captain John Cooke was the second son of Francis Cooke, Esq., Cashier of His Majesty's Navy. At the early age of eleven years he embarked on board the Greyhound cutter, commanded by Lieutenant (now Admiral) Bazely*. From this first introduction into his profession, he, however, soon returned to Mr. Braken's celebrated naval academy at Greenwich, that no time might be lost for acquiring thoroughly the first elements of nautical science and military tactics. It was during his residence at this seminary, that he first received that patronage from Sir Alexander Hood, (now Lord Bridport,) which was never withdrawn through life. By his favour and kindness, he was borne on one of the King's yachts' books, and thus obtained the double advantage of prosecuting his naval studies, and reckoning his time as though in actual service. He was placed in a more active situation at the age of thirteen, by accompanying Lord Howe to America, in the Eagle, of 64 * A portrait and biographical memoir of this officer are given in the XIVth Volume of our Chronicle, page 177. Captain Cooke's entrance into the naval service must have been about the year 1774. guns. His exertions and activity at the attack of Rhode Island, where he particularly distinguished himself, and was one of the first who entered the Fort, procured him the favour and approbation of his Commander; as a proof of which, it may be mentioned that, on his return home in the Eagle, whilst busily employed in the discharge of his duty, his juvenile modesty was startled by Lord Howe's clapping him on the back, in his abrupt manner, and saying to him in the presence of many persons, "Why, young man, you wish to become a Lieutenant before you are of sufficient age." During the station of the Eagle on the American coast, in order to see more active service than in a flag-ship, he served as a supernumerary Midshipman on board the Liverpool frigate, under Captains Bellew and Christian. On the arrival of the Eagle in Englandt, he was made a Lieutenant, and appointed to the Worcester. In this ship he went to the East Indies with Sir Edward Hughes, whose fortunes he followed, until his active services at Trincomale and Seringapatam so much affected his health, that he was under the necessity of returning home in the Nymph sloop, Captain Sutton. This step, however indispensable at the time, lost him his promotion for some years, being the next on Sir E. Hughes's list, who was his sincere friend upon all occasions, and never evinced it more than by sending him back to his native country at that period. His stay in England was about two years, during which time his health was fully re-established, though all hope of promotion at home was next to impossible, as even to get employed in a profound peace required the greatest interest. At this time, for the purpose of improving in the French language, so useful in his profession, he went to France. His stay was nearly a year, *The Eagle arrived off Halifax on the 1st of July, 1776. Vide biographical memoir of Lord Howe, NAVAL CHRONICLE, Vol. I, page 15. The Eagle arrived in England in the winter of 1778. For a detailed account of the services of Sir Edward Hughes in the East Indies, see the biographical memoir of that officer, NAVAL CHRONICLE, Vol. IX, page 88, et seq. |