John Cocks, 1st Earl Somers

John Somers Cocks, 1st Earl Somers (6 May 1760 – 5 January 1841), known as The Lord Somers between 1806 and 1821, was a British peer and politician.

Background and education

Somers was the son of Charles Cocks, 1st Baron Somers, and Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Eliot. He was educated at Westminster and St Alban's Hall, Oxford.^[1]

Political career

Somers sat as Member of Parliament for West Looe between 1782 and 1784,^[1][2] for Grampound between 1784 and 1790^[1][3] and finally for Reigate between 1790 and 1806.^[1][4] The latter year he succeeded his father in the barony and entered the House of Lords. In 1817 he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, a post he held until his death in 1841.^[1][5] In 1821 he was created Viscount Eastnor, of Eastnor Castle in the County of Hereford, and Earl Somers.^[6]

Starting in the 1790s he had served with the Worcester Yeomen Cavalry.

Family

Lord Somers was twice married. He married as his first wife Margaret, daughter of Reverend Treadway Russell Nash, on 19 March 1785.^[7] They had three sons and one daughter. His eldest son, Edward Charles Cocks, a British Army officer, was killed at the Siege of Burgos in 1812 during the Peninsular War.

After his first wife's death in February 1831 he married as his second wife his first cousin, Jane, daughter of James Cocks and widow of Reverend George Waddington, in 1834. They had no children. Somers died in January 1841, aged 80, and was succeeded in his titles by his second but eldest surviving son, John. The Countess Somers died in November 1868.^[1]

Notes

References

• G. E. C., ed. Geoffrey F. White. The Complete Peerage. (London: St. Chaterine Press, 1953) Vol. XII, Part 1, p. 32.