Edward Charles Cocks (27 July 1786 – 8 October 1812) was a
British Army officer and politician. He served in Spain with
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington in the
Peninsular War and was killed at the
Siege of Burgos
Life
Cocks was the eldest son of
John Cocks, 1st Earl Somers, he was
Member of Parliament for
Reigate from 1806 to 1812.
From December 1808 until 1812 he served in the
Peninsular War, where alongside his regular duties, he worked as an 'observing officer'. These were officers who were tasked with probing deep behind the enemy lines to collect information on the enemy. He died, with the rank of
Major
Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
, leading his men in an attempt to storm a breach at the
Siege of Burgos.
He was a great favourite of his commander
Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington, who admired him for his bravery and sharp perception and who took news of his death badly. Wellesley entered (then Colonel)
Frederick Ponsonby's room and paced up and down in total silence, much to his junior officers consternation, before stating quietly: "Cocks is dead". Wellesley subsequently wrote to Cocks’ father; “Your son fell, as he had lived, in the zealous and gallant discharge of his duty… if Providence had spared him to you,
e hadacquirements and qualities to become one of the greatest ornaments of his profession, and to continue an honour to his family, and an advantage to his country”. Cocks is commemorated on a plaque set into the
Eastnor Obelisk, raised by his father in 1812.
Notes
References
Sources
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*
*
G. E. C., ed. Geoffrey F. White. ''
The Complete Peerage''. (London: St. Chaterine Press, 1953) Vol. XII, Part 1, p. 32-33.
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cocks, Edward Charles
1786 births
1812 deaths
UK MPs 1806–1807
UK MPs 1807–1812
Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies
16th The Queen's Lancers officers
British Army personnel of the Napoleonic Wars
British military personnel killed in action in the Napoleonic Wars
48th Regiment of Foot officers
Heirs apparent who never acceded