Memorial: M542

Memorial in the Church of St Andrew the Great, Cambridge commemorating Captain James Cook RN d. 1779

Location

Church of St Andrew the Great, Cambridge, England

Transcript

'IN MEMORY / of CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, of the Royal Navy, / one of the most celebrated Navigators, that this/or former Ages can boast of; who was killed by / the natives of Owyhee, in the Pacific Ocean, on the /14th Day of February, 1779; in the 51st Year of his Age. / Of Mr. NATHANIEL COOK, who was lost with the / Thunderer Man of War, Captain Boyle Walsingham / in a most dreadful Hurricane, in October, 1780; / aged 16 years. / Of Mr. HUGH COOK, of Christ's College, CAMBRIDGE / who died on the 21st of December 1793; aged 17 Years. / Of JAMES COOK Esq: COMMANDER in the ROYAL NAVY / who lost his Life on the 25th of January, 1794; in / going from Poole to the Spitfire Sloop of War, which / he commanded; in the 31st Year of his Age. / Of ELIZth COOK, who died April 9th 1771. Aged 4 years / JOSEPH COOK, who died Sept 13th 1768. Aged 1 month / GEORGE COOK who died Oct 1st, 1772. Aged 4 Months / All Children of the first mentioned CAPT. JAMES COOK by / ELIZABETH COOK, who survived her husband 56 years & / departed this life 13th May, 1835 at her residence Clapham, Surrey / in the 94th YEAR of her Age. Her remains are deposited / with those of her Sons JAMES & HUGH, / in the middle Aisle of this Church'

Details

Description: Above the inscription tablet, a mourning figure flanked by naval trophies and navigational instruments in relief, the whole surmounted by an urn. Pilasters on either side of the inscription and the Cook arms beneath it.
Type: Wall tablet
Position: North wall of chancel
Vessel: HMS Spitfire, HMS Thunderer

People

Cook, James
Age: 51
Date of Death: 14/2/1779
Cause of Death: Killed by indigenous people
Rank / Occupation: Captain RN
Organisation: Royal Navy
Cook, Nathaniel
Age: 16
Date of Death: 5/10/1780
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation:
Organisation: Royal Navy
Cook, James
Age: 31
Date of Death: 25/1/1794
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Commander RN
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: PROB11/1847 The will of Mrs Elizabeth Cook leaves £1,000 for the upkeep of the monument 'which I have caused to be put up'.
Recorder: A.J. Richardson 1989
Photographer: B. Tomlinson
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