Thomas Somers-Cocks (5 February 1815 – 30 August 1899) was a British Conservative Party[1] politician and a banker. He was a founding member of the Canterbury Association.

Early life

Cocks was born at Thames Bank, Marlow, Buckinghamshire. His parents were Thomas Somers-Cocks (b.1769), a banker of Thames Bank, and Agneta Pole-Carew, 5th daughter of Sir Reginald Pole-Carew and sister of William Pole-Carew.[2] Lord Somers as head of the family was chosen as his godfather. His father's oldest sister, Mrs Vernon, became his godmother.[3] He received his education at Christ Church, Oxford, but did not obtain a degree.[2]

Cocks became engaged to Sarah Louisa Wynne just before he turned 27.[4] They married on 24 May 1842. She was the daughter of Charles Griffith-Wynne and the sister of Charlotte Griffith Wynne, who married John Robert Godley.[2]

They had three children: Thomas Somers Vernon (1850–1932), Alfred Heneage (1851 – ca 1930/31) and Alice Agneta (1853–1899).[5]

Canterbury Association

He attended the inaugural meeting of the Canterbury Association on 27 Mar 1848, joined the management committee and became the banker for the group.[2]

Politics

Somers-Cocks was elected at the 1847 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for borough of Reigate in Surrey.[6] He was re-elected in 1852,[7] and held the seat until he stood down at the 1857 general election.[1][8]

Death and commemoration

His wife died in the 1894 influenza epidemic.[9] Cocks died on 30 August 1899 at Thames Bank, Great Marlow.[2] Somers Place in the Christchurch (New Zealand) suburb of Spreydon is named after him.[10] Mount Somers / Te Kiekie, a mountain in the foothills of the Southern Alps, was named after him. Subsequently, the name Mount Somers was used for a nearby village and a railway branch line.[2]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1977]. British parliamentary election results 1832–1885 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 252. ISBN 0-900178-26-4.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Blain, Michael (2007). "The Canterbury Association (1848–1852): A Study of Its Members' Connections" (PDF). Reverend Michael Blain. p. 21. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  3. ↑ Cocks 1999, p. 159.
  4. ↑ Cocks 1999, p. 165.
  5. ↑ Cocks 1999, pp. 166, 184, 189.
  6. ↑ "No. 20766". The London Gazette. 20 August 1847. p. 3031.
  7. ↑ "No. 21345". The London Gazette. 3 August 185. p. 2129.
  8. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 1)
  9. ↑ Cocks 1999, p. 184.
  10. ↑ Harper, Margaret. "Christchurch Street Names S" (PDF). Christchurch City Libraries. p. 59. Retrieved 26 January 2011.

References

  • Cocks, J.V. Somers (1999). A History of the Cocks Family (PDF) (Revised ed.). Ashhurst, New Zealand: J. Somers Cocks. ISBN 0-473-06085-X. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
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