Memorial: M4774

Memorial in Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London commemorating Captain Edward Cooke, HEIC, RN d.1799

Location

Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London, England

Transcript

'Erected by the Honourable EAST INDIA COMPANY as a grateful Testimony to the Valour and eminant services of CAPTAIN EDWARD COOKE Commander of His Majesty's ship SYBILLE; who, on the 1st March 1799, after a long and well-contested Engagement captured LA-FORTE, a French Frigate of very superior Force, in the Bay of BENGAL: An Event not more splendid in its Achievement, than important in its Results to British Trade in INDIA. He died in Consequence of the severe wounds he received in the memorable Action on the 23d of May 1799; aged 27'

Details

Description: Relief on base of the action in the Bay of Bengal between Sybille and La-Forte 1 March 1799, flanked by an Indian elephant and Bengal tiger. Above in high relief a seaman supports the wounded Cooke who clasps the ensign staff with his left hand and points with his right to Victory above who is offering him a wreath. To one side an anchor, gun and coil of rope, the ship's mast behind.
Type: Monument
Position: Chapel of St John The Evangelist
Materials: Marble
Date Erected: 1806
Artists: John Bacon, the younger
Vessel: HMS 'Sybille'

People

Cooke, Edward
Age: 27
Date of Death: 23/5/1799
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Captain RN
Organisation: Honourable East India Company, Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: Buried in India. Monument erected by the East India Co. Died of wounds in action between HMS 'Sybille' and the French Frigate 'La-Forte' 1/3/1799. Design in the V&A collections 8417.7.

Bibliography: Joe Whitlock Blundel 'Westminster Abbey the Monuments'; 'Dictionary of National Biography'; John Physick 'Designs for English Sculpture 1680-1860' (London, 1969) pp. 176-7.
Recorder: A.J. Richardson
Photographer: B. Tomlinson

JSON

{
  "post_id": "802",
  "id": "M4774",
  "location": "Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London, England",
  "transcript": "'Erected by the Honourable EAST INDIA COMPANY as a grateful Testimony to the Valour and eminant services of CAPTAIN EDWARD COOKE Commander of His Majesty's ship SYBILLE; who, on the 1st March 1799, after a long and well-contested Engagement captured LA-FORTE, a French Frigate of very superior Force, in the Bay of BENGAL: An Event not more splendid in its Achievement, than important in its Results to British Trade in INDIA. He died in Consequence of the severe wounds he received in the memorable Action on the 23d of May 1799; aged 27'",
  "content": "<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://memorials.rmg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/M4774Large.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6928\" width=\"357\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https://memorials.rmg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/M4774Large.jpg 500w, https://memorials.rmg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/M4774Large-214x300.jpg 214w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 357px) 100vw, 357px\" /></figure>\n\n\n<p>Memorial in Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London commemorating Captain Edward Cooke, HEIC, RN d.1799</p>",
  "images": ["/uploads/2014/05/M4774Large.jpg","/uploads/2014/05/M4774Large-214x300.jpg"],
  "categories": ["Uncategorised"],
  "details": {
    "description": "Relief on base of the action in the Bay of Bengal between Sybille and La-Forte 1 March 1799, flanked by an Indian elephant and Bengal tiger. Above in high relief a seaman supports the wounded Cooke who clasps the ensign staff with his left hand and points with his right to Victory above who is offering him a wreath. To one side an anchor, gun and coil of rope, the ship's mast behind.",
    "type": "Monument",
    "position": "Chapel of St John The Evangelist",
    "materials": "Marble",
    "dateErected": "1806",
    "artists": "John Bacon, the younger",
    "vessel": "HMS 'Sybille'"  },
  "event": {
    "event":"",
    "date": "",
    "category": ""  },
  "people": [{"name":"Cooke, Edward","age":"27","dateofdeath":"23/5/1799","causeofdeath":"War casualty","rankOccupation":"Captain RN","organisation":"Honourable East India Company, Royal Navy"}],
  "extra": {
    "notes": "Buried in India. Monument erected by the East India Co. Died of wounds in action between HMS 'Sybille' and the French Frigate 'La-Forte' 1/3/1799. Design in the V&A collections 8417.7.<br />",
    "bibliography": "Joe Whitlock Blundel 'Westminster Abbey the Monuments'; 'Dictionary of National Biography'; John Physick 'Designs for English Sculpture 1680-1860' (London, 1969) pp. 176-7.",
    "recorder": "A.J. Richardson",
    "photographer": "B. Tomlinson"  }
}

Commemorating seafarers and victims of maritime disasters