Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cockerell, Samuel Pepys
COCKERELL, SAMUEL PEPYS (1754–1827), architect, was son of John Cockerell of Bishop's Hall, Somersetshire, by Frances Jackson, his wife, and brother of Sir Charles Cockerell, M.P., of Sezincote, Gloucestershire, who was created a baronet in 1809. His mother was daughter of John Jackson, the nephew and heir of Samuel Pepys, and through her Cockerell became the representative, and inherited many interesting relics, of the great diarist. He was a pupil of Sir Robert Taylor, and soon rose to eminence in his profession, gaining an extensive practice towards the end of the century. He held the appointment of surveyor to the East India House, and was district surveyor under the building acts of parliament, besides filling other important professional offices. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1785, sending some designs for ornamental structures in the park of White Knights in Berkshire. He did not exhibit again till 1792, from which year up to 1803 he was a frequent contributor, chiefly of designs for mansions and churches. In 1796-8 he rebuilt the church of St. Martin Outwich, London, his most important work, some of the designs for which he sent to the Royal Academy. This church was pulled down in 1874. He built several large and handsome residences, and was employed in altering many more, among those designed or improved by him being Middleton Hall, Carmarthenshire, Gore Court, near Sittingbourne, Kent, and Nutwell Court, near Exeter. Cockerell lived at the house at the corner of Savile Row and Burlington Street, and latterly at Westbourne Lodge, Paddington, where he died on 12 July 1827, aged 74. He married Ann, daughter and coheiress of John Whetham of St. Ives, by whom he had six sons and five daughters; one of his sons was Charles Robert Cockerell [q. v.], a far more distinguished architect than his father. Sir William Beechey painted a half-length portrait of Cockerell, which was engraved in mezzotint by Hodgetts, and published on 9 Aug. 1834. There is also a profile by George Dance, engraved by Daniell.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760-1880; Diary and Correspondence of Samuel Pepys, ed. Bright, Appendix; Builder, 26 Sept. 1863; Evans's Cat. of Portraits; Catalogues of the Royal Academy.]