Joseph Platt Cooke
Encyclopedia
Joseph Platt Cooke was an American
military officer in the Revolutionary War
, a Connecticut
politician
, and twice a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation
. He was born in Stratford, Connecticut
and graduated from Yale College
in 1750. He died in Danbury, Connecticut
.
In 1771 he was appointed colonel of the Sixteenth Regiment of the Connecticut militia, and during the Revolutionary War
he accompanied General Wolcott's forces to New York
in 1776. He was in command of the state forces when the British burned Danbury on April 26 and April 27, 1777. His own home, which he had built at 342 Main Street in 1770, was partially destroyed by fire. He resigned his colonelcy early in 1778. In 1781 his home served as a meeting place for George Washington
and the French military leaders, the Comte de Rochambeau and the Marquis de la Fayette.
Before, during, and after the Revolutionary War, Cooke played an active role in the political and judicial aspects of local government. He settled in Danbury and from 1763 to 1783 represented the town in about thirty sessions of the general assembly. He was justice of the peace
in 1764, served as judge of the probate court for Danbury district 1776 to 1813, was a member of the council of safety in 1778, and was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1776, 1778, 1780–1782, and 1784. He represented Connecticut in the Congress of the Confederation
during its sixth session (November 1, 1784 – December 24, 1784 in Trenton, New Jersey
, and January 11, 1785 – November 4, 1785 in New York, New York) and its ninth session (November 5, 1787 – October 21, 1788 in New York, New York). He served on the Connecticut Governor's Council in 1803
He was interred in Danbury at the North Main Street Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military officer in the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, a Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and twice a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation
Congress of the Confederation
The Congress of the Confederation or the United States in Congress Assembled was the governing body of the United States of America that existed from March 1, 1781, to March 4, 1789. It comprised delegates appointed by the legislatures of the states. It was the immediate successor to the Second...
. He was born in Stratford, Connecticut
Stratford, Connecticut
Stratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River. It was founded by Puritans in 1639....
and graduated from Yale College
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1750. He died in Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
.
In 1771 he was appointed colonel of the Sixteenth Regiment of the Connecticut militia, and during the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
he accompanied General Wolcott's forces to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1776. He was in command of the state forces when the British burned Danbury on April 26 and April 27, 1777. His own home, which he had built at 342 Main Street in 1770, was partially destroyed by fire. He resigned his colonelcy early in 1778. In 1781 his home served as a meeting place for George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and the French military leaders, the Comte de Rochambeau and the Marquis de la Fayette.
Before, during, and after the Revolutionary War, Cooke played an active role in the political and judicial aspects of local government. He settled in Danbury and from 1763 to 1783 represented the town in about thirty sessions of the general assembly. He was justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in 1764, served as judge of the probate court for Danbury district 1776 to 1813, was a member of the council of safety in 1778, and was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1776, 1778, 1780–1782, and 1784. He represented Connecticut in the Congress of the Confederation
Congress of the Confederation
The Congress of the Confederation or the United States in Congress Assembled was the governing body of the United States of America that existed from March 1, 1781, to March 4, 1789. It comprised delegates appointed by the legislatures of the states. It was the immediate successor to the Second...
during its sixth session (November 1, 1784 – December 24, 1784 in Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, and January 11, 1785 – November 4, 1785 in New York, New York) and its ninth session (November 5, 1787 – October 21, 1788 in New York, New York). He served on the Connecticut Governor's Council in 1803
He was interred in Danbury at the North Main Street Cemetery.
External links
- "COOKE, Joseph Platt, (1730 - 1816)", Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, U.S. Congress