John Cocks, 1st Earl Somers
Encyclopedia
John Somers Cocks, 1st Earl Somers (6 May 1760 - 5 January 1841), known as The Lord Somers between 1806 and 1821, was a British peer and politician.
, and Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Eliot. He was educated at Westminster
and St Alban's Hall, Oxford
.
for West Looe
between 1782 and 1784, for Grampound
between 1784 and 1790 and finally for Reigate
between 1790 and 1806. The latter year he succeeded his father in the barony and entered the House of Lords
. In 1817 he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire
, a post he held until his death in 1841. In 1821 he was created Viscount Eastnor, of Eastnor Castle in the County of Hereford, and Earl Somers.
Starting in the 1790s he had served with the Worcester Yeomen Cavalry.
, on 19 March 1785. They had three sons and one daughter. His eldest son, Edward Charles Cocks
, a British Army officer, was killed at the Siege of Burgos
in 1812 during the Peninsular War
.
After his first wife's death in February 1831 he married as his second wife his first cousin, Jane, daughter of James Cocks and widow of Reverend George Waddington, in 1834. They had no children. Somers died in January 1841, aged 80, and was succeeded in his titles by his second but eldest surviving son, John
. The Countess Somers died in November 1868.
Background and education
Somers was the son of Charles Cocks, 1st Baron SomersCharles Cocks, 1st Baron Somers
Charles Cocks, 1st Baron Somers , known as Sir Charles Cocks, 1st Baronet, from 1772 to 1784, was a British politician....
, and Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Eliot. He was educated at Westminster
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
and St Alban's Hall, Oxford
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
.
Political career
Somers sat as Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for West Looe
West Looe (UK Parliament constituency)
West Looe was a rotten borough represented in the House of Commons of England from 1535 to 1707, in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1797 to 1800, and in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. It elected two Members of Parliament by the bloc vote system of election...
between 1782 and 1784, for Grampound
Grampound (UK Parliament constituency)
Grampound in Cornwall, was a borough constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1821. It was represented by two Members of Parliament.-History:Grampound's...
between 1784 and 1790 and finally for Reigate
Reigate (UK Parliament constituency)
Reigate is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
between 1790 and 1806. The latter year he succeeded his father in the barony and entered the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. In 1817 he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire
Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire. Before the English Civil War, the lieutenancy of Herefordshire was always held by the Lord Lieutenant of Wales, but after the Restoration, its lieutenants were appointed separately...
, a post he held until his death in 1841. In 1821 he was created Viscount Eastnor, of Eastnor Castle in the County of Hereford, and Earl Somers.
Starting in the 1790s he had served with the Worcester Yeomen Cavalry.
Family
Lord Somers was twice married. He married as his first wife Margaret, daughter of Reverend Treadway Russell NashTreadway Russell Nash
Treadway Russell Nash was English clergyman, now known as an early historian of Worcestershire, and the author of Collections for the History of Worcestershire, an important source document for Worcestershire county histories. He was a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London...
, on 19 March 1785. They had three sons and one daughter. His eldest son, Edward Charles Cocks
Edward Charles Cocks
Edward Charles Cocks was a British Army officer and politician.The eldest son of John Cocks, 1st Earl Somers, he was Member of Parliament for Reigate from 1806 to 1812....
, a British Army officer, was killed at the Siege of Burgos
Siege of Burgos
At the Siege of Burgos, from 19 September to 21 October 1812, the Anglo-Portuguese Army led by General Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington tried to capture the castle of Burgos from its French garrison under the command of General of Brigade Jean-Louis Dubreton. The French repulsed every...
in 1812 during the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
.
After his first wife's death in February 1831 he married as his second wife his first cousin, Jane, daughter of James Cocks and widow of Reverend George Waddington, in 1834. They had no children. Somers died in January 1841, aged 80, and was succeeded in his titles by his second but eldest surviving son, John
John Somers-Cocks, 2nd Earl Somers
John Somers Somers-Cocks, 2nd Earl Somers , styled Viscount Eastnor between 1821 and 1841, was a British peer and politician....
. The Countess Somers died in November 1868.