Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cooke, Robert (fl.1793-1814)

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1352769Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 12 — Cooke, Robert (fl.1793-1814)1887Edward Heron-Allen

COOKE, ROBERT (1768–1814), musician, was son of Dr. Benjamin Cooke the organist [q. v.] He became organist of the church of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields on the retirement of his father in 1793. He was elected master of the choir-boys at Westminster in 1806, and appointed organist at the abbey on the death of Dr. Arnold in 1802. He held this post until 1814, when he went mad, and drowned himself in the Thames. The most celebrated works which he left behind him are an ‘Ode to Friendship,’ which was sung on the first night of the British Concerts, an Evening Service in C, and several songs and glees, of which a collection of eight was published in 1805, and a song in imitation of Purcell, composed expressly for James Bartleman [q. v.]

[Grove's Dict. of Music; A Dictionary of Musicians, 1827, 8vo.]

E. H.-A.