George Leigh Cooke
Encyclopedia
George Leigh Cooke was a mathematician and priest who held the position of Sedleian Professor of Natural Philosophy
at the University of Oxford
for over 40 years.
in Surrey. He was baptised on 12 September 1779. Cooke matriculated at the University of Oxford
as a member of Balliol College
on 26 January 1797, at the age of 17, and became a scholar of Corpus Christi College
in the same year. He was elected to a fellowship of Corpus Christi in 1800, the year in which he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree, and retained this position until 1815, when he resigned in order to marry. He took his Master of Arts degree in 1804 and his Bachelor of Divinity
degree in 1812. He was appointed Sedleian Professor of Natural Philosophy
in 1810, retaining this post until 1853. He was also Keeper of the Archives
of the university between 1818 and 1826. An ordained Anglican
priest, in 1820 he was appointed vicar
of Wick Rissington in Gloucestershire, and also vicar of Cubbington
and of Hunningham
(both in Warwickshire). He was regarded as a sociable individual, who was one of the main figures of the Literary Dining Club for Oxford academics. He died on 29 March 1853 at Cubbington.
Sedleian professor of natural philosophy
The Sedleian professor of natural philosophy is the name of a chair at the Mathematical Institute of the University of Oxford.The Sedleian Chair was founded by Sir William Sedley who, by his will dated October 20, 1618, left the sum of ₤2,000 to the University of Oxford for purchase of lands for...
at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
for over 40 years.
Life
George Leigh Cooke was the son of a Samuel Cooke, from BookhamBookham
Bookham refers to places:in Dorset, England*Bookham, Dorsetin Surrey, England:*Great Bookham*Little Bookham**location of Bookham railway station*Bookham Commonsin Australia*Bookham, New South WalesBookham also refers to a company:...
in Surrey. He was baptised on 12 September 1779. Cooke matriculated at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
as a member of Balliol College
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
on 26 January 1797, at the age of 17, and became a scholar of Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom...
in the same year. He was elected to a fellowship of Corpus Christi in 1800, the year in which he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree, and retained this position until 1815, when he resigned in order to marry. He took his Master of Arts degree in 1804 and his Bachelor of Divinity
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
degree in 1812. He was appointed Sedleian Professor of Natural Philosophy
Sedleian professor of natural philosophy
The Sedleian professor of natural philosophy is the name of a chair at the Mathematical Institute of the University of Oxford.The Sedleian Chair was founded by Sir William Sedley who, by his will dated October 20, 1618, left the sum of ₤2,000 to the University of Oxford for purchase of lands for...
in 1810, retaining this post until 1853. He was also Keeper of the Archives
Keeper of the Archives
The position of Keeper of the Archives at the University of Oxford in England dates from 1634, when it was established by new statutes for the university brought in by William Laud...
of the university between 1818 and 1826. An ordained Anglican
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
priest, in 1820 he was appointed vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Wick Rissington in Gloucestershire, and also vicar of Cubbington
Cubbington
Cubbington is a village and civil parish with a population of 4,034 adjoining the north-eastern outskirts of Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England. Welsh Road, running through the village crossroads, may have been an old sheep drovers' route connecting London and Wales...
and of Hunningham
Hunningham
Hunningham is a small village and civil parish in Warwickshire, England. It is found 3 miles to the north-east of Leamington Spa, within the Radford Semele ward. In 2005 the village population was 198....
(both in Warwickshire). He was regarded as a sociable individual, who was one of the main figures of the Literary Dining Club for Oxford academics. He died on 29 March 1853 at Cubbington.