Caleb Jeacocke (1706–1786) was an English baker, businessman and orator, known for his participation in the Robin Hood Society, a London debating society.

Life

Jeacocke carried on the business of a baker in High Street, St. Giles's, London, and became a director of the Hand-in-Hand fire office, and a member of the

Skinners' Company The Worshipful Company of Skinners (known as The Skinners' Company) is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. It was originally an association of those engaged in the trade of skins and furs. It was granted Royal Charter in 1327 ...

. He frequently attended the Robin Hood debating society which held meetings in Butcher Row, Temple Bar. The oratory of Jeacocke gained a reputation, as more effective than that of

Edmund Burke Edmund Burke (; 12 January NS.html"_;"title="New_Style.html"_;"title="/nowiki>New_Style">NS">New_Style.html"_;"title="/nowiki>New_Style">NS/nowiki>_1729_–_9_July_1797)_was_an_ NS.html"_;"title="New_Style.html"_;"title="/nowiki>New_Style"> ...

and others.

Oliver Goldsmith Oliver Goldsmith (10 November 1728 – 4 April 1774) was an Anglo-Irish novelist, playwright, dramatist and poet, who is best known for his novel ''The Vicar of Wakefield'' (1766), his pastoral poem ''The Deserted Village'' (1770), and his pl ...

was introduced to the society by

Samuel Derrick Samuel Derrick (1724–1769) was an Irish author. He became known as a hack writer in London, where he gained wide literary connections. Life Born in Dublin, Derrick served an apprenticeship with a linen draper, and after that failed as an actor ...

. At a time when Jeacocke was president, sitting in a large gilt chair, Goldsmith commented that nature had meant him for a

Lord Chancellor The lord chancellor, formally the lord high chancellor of Great Britain, is the highest-ranking traditional minister among the Great Officers of State in Scotland and England in the United Kingdom, nominally outranking the prime minister. The ...

; "No, no," whispered Derrick, "only for a

Master of the Rolls The Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the President of the Court of Appeal (England and Wales)#Civil Division, Civil Division of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales a ...

". Jeacocke died on 7 January 1786, in

Denmark Street Denmark Street is a street on the edge of London's West End running from Charing Cross Road to St Giles High Street. It is near St Giles in the Fields Church and Tottenham Court Road station. The street was developed in the late 17th centu ...

, Soho, London. He was author of ''A Vindication of the Moral Character of the Apostle Paul against the Charges of Hypocrisy and Insincerity brought by Lord Bolingbroke, Dr. Middleton, and others'', London, 1765.

Notes

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Jeacocke, Caleb 1706 births 1786 deaths English businesspeople English writers