Thomas Taplin Cooke (1782–1866) was an eminent

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

showman Showman can have a variety of meanings, usually by context and depending on the country. Australia Travelling showmen are people who run amusement and side show equipment at regional shows, state capital shows, events and festivals througho ...

, born in

Warwick Warwick ( ) is a market town, civil parish and the county town of Warwickshire in the Warwick District in England, adjacent to the River Avon. It is south of Coventry, and south-east of Birmingham. It is adjoined with Leamington Spa and Whi ...

, who toured in America as well as his own country. In 1997 Cooke was inducted into the Circus Hall of Fame.

Private life

Cooke was said to have had between 13 and nineteen children who were mostly circus performers. He and his wife, Mary Anne, had a daughter Rebecca who married and their daughter was the equestrian performer Nellie Boswell.

References

Circus owners Burials at Kensal Green Cemetery People from Warwick 1782 births 1866 deaths 19th-century British businesspeople {{UK-entertainer-stub