Thomas Somers-Cocks
Encyclopedia
Thomas Somers-Cocks was a British Conservative Party
politician and a banker. He was a founding member of the Canterbury Association
.
. His parents were Thomas Somers-Cocks, a banker of Thames Bank, and Agneta Pole-Carew, 5th daughter of Sir Reginald Pole-Carew
and sister of William Pole-Carew. Lord Somers
as head of the family was chosen as his godfather. His father's oldest sister, Mrs Vernon, became his godmother. He received his education at Christ Church, Oxford
, but did not obtain a degree.
Cocks became engaged to Sarah Louisa Wynne just before he turned 27. They married on 24 May 1842. She was the daughter of Charles Griffith-Wynne and the sister of Charlotte Griffith Wynne, who married John Robert Godley
.
They had three children: Thomas Somers Vernon (1850–1932), Alfred Heneage (1851 – ca 1930/31) and Alice Agneta (1853–1899).
as the Member of Parliament
(MP) for borough of Reigate
in Surrey
. He was re-elected in 1852
,
and held the seat until he stood down at the 1857 general election
.
(New Zealand
) suburb of Spreydon
is named after him. Mount Somers
, both a township and a hill in the foothills of the Southern Alps, are named after him.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician and a banker. He was a founding member of the Canterbury Association
Canterbury Association
The Canterbury Association was formed in order to establish a colony in what is now the Canterbury Region in the South Island of New Zealand.- Formation of the Association :...
.
Early life
Cocks was born at Thames Bank, Marlow, BuckinghamshireMarlow, Buckinghamshire
Marlow is a town and civil parish within Wycombe district in south Buckinghamshire, England...
. His parents were Thomas Somers-Cocks, a banker of Thames Bank, and Agneta Pole-Carew, 5th daughter of Sir Reginald Pole-Carew
Reginald Pole Carew
Reginald Pole Carew was a British politician.Rt. Hon. Reginald Pole-Carew was born 28 July 1753, the son of Reginald Pole and Anne Buller. He lived at Antony House, Cornwall.-Career:...
and sister of William Pole-Carew. Lord Somers
John Cocks, 1st Earl Somers
John Somers Cocks, 1st Earl Somers , known as The Lord Somers between 1806 and 1821, was a British peer and politician.-Background and education:...
as head of the family was chosen as his godfather. His father's oldest sister, Mrs Vernon, became his godmother. He received his education at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, but did not obtain a degree.
Cocks became engaged to Sarah Louisa Wynne just before he turned 27. They married on 24 May 1842. She was the daughter of Charles Griffith-Wynne and the sister of Charlotte Griffith Wynne, who married John Robert Godley
John Robert Godley
John Robert Godley was an Irish statesman and bureaucrat. Godley is considered to be the founder of Canterbury, New Zealand, although he lived there for only two years.-Early life:...
.
They had three children: Thomas Somers Vernon (1850–1932), Alfred Heneage (1851 – ca 1930/31) and Alice Agneta (1853–1899).
Canterbury Association
He attended the inaugural meeting of the Canterbury Association on 27 Mar 1848, joined the management committee and became the banker for the group.Politics
Somers-Cocks was elected at the 1847 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1847
-Seats summary:-References:* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
as the Member of Parliament
Member 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,...
(MP) for borough of 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:...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. He was re-elected in 1852
United Kingdom general election, 1852
The July 1852 United Kingdom general election was a watershed election in the formation of the modern political parties of Britain. Following 1852, the Tory/Conservative party became, more completely, the party of the rural aristocracy, while the Whig/Liberal party became the party of the rising...
,
and held the seat until he stood down at the 1857 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1857
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
.
Death and commemoration
His wife died in the 1894 influenza epidemic. Cocks died on 30 August 1899 at Thames Bank, Great Marlow. Somers Place in the ChristchurchChristchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
(New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
) suburb of Spreydon
Spreydon
Spreydon is a middle-class suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. The most central street through Spreydon is Lyttelton Street. Spreydon is flanked by the suburbs Barrington, Hoon Hay, Riccarton, and Lower Cashmere....
is named after him. Mount Somers
Mount Somers
Mount Somers is a small town in Canterbury, New Zealand, nestled in the foothills of the Southern Alps. The population in the 2001 census was 2,307. Due to its scenic location, it has seen growth in the number of holiday homes....
, both a township and a hill in the foothills of the Southern Alps, are named after him.