Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cooke, George Leigh

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COOKE, GEORGE LEIGH (1780?–1853), Sedleian professor of natural philosophy in the university of Oxford, son of the Rev. Samuel Cooke, rector of Great Bookham, Surrey, was born about 1780. He entered the university of Oxford in 1797 as a commoner of Balliol College, and was elected the same year a scholar of Corpus Christi, of which he afterwards became fellow and tutor. He graduated B.A. 6 Nov. 1800, M.A. 9 March 1804, and B.D. 12 June 1812. In 1810 he was elected Sedleian professor of natural philosophy. From 1818 to 1826 he was keeper of the archives of the university. He also held the office of public preacher, and was several times public examiner. He was presented to the rectory of Cubbington, Warwickshire, in 1824, and to Wick Risington, Gloucestershire, and Hunningham, Warwickshire, in the same year. He died 29 March 1853. He published in 1850 ‘The first three sections and part of the seventh section of Newton's “Principia,” with a preface recommending a Geometrical course of Mathematical Reading, and an Introduction on the Atomic Constitution of Matter and the Laws of Motion.’

[Gent. Mag. new ser. (1853), vol. xl. pt. ii. p. 94.]