Sir Charles Cockerell, 1st Baronet: Difference between revisions

After education at Sharpe's school in [[Bromley-by-Bow]] and later [[Winchester College]] between 1767-91767–9, Cockerell arrived in [[Bengal Presidency|Bengal]], India in 1776 as a writer ([[clerk]]) for the EIC's surveyor-general's office. He became friends with [[Warren Hastings]], the first Governor-General of India and [[Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley]], brother of the [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]]. Whilst employed by the EIC he was also a partner and later principal of the [[Kolkata|Calcutta]] bank of Cockerell, Trail & Co. During the [[Fourth Anglo-Mysore War]] (1798-9), Cockerell assisted Wellesley as commander of the civil service military force and through financial arrangements with the Bengal government. As a result of these services he was raised to the [[Baronetage of England]] on 25 September 1809.<ref name=HOP />

Whilst remaining as an agent for the EIC, Cockerell was introduced as a Member of Parliament for [[Tregony (UK Parliament constituency)|Tregony]] by [[Richard Barwell]], whom he had known in India. He was a silent supporter of [[Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth|Henry Addington]]'s ministry and considered doubtful by [[William Pitt the Younger]] on the latter's reelection in 1804. After failing to secure a seat in the 1806 Election, Cockerell was returned to Parliament for [[Lostwithiel (UK Parliament constituency)|Lostwithiel]] in January 1807. He was subsequently MP for [[Bletchingley (UK Parliament constituency)|Bletchingley]] from 1809–12, [[Seaford (UK Parliament constituency)|Seaford]] from 1816-18 and for [[Evesham (UK Parliament constituency)|Evesham]] from 1819-371819–37.<ref name=HOP /> Cockerell served as Mayor of Evesham from 1810 to 1833.<ref>https://www.eveshamtowncouncil.gov.uk/evesham-town-mayor/past-mayors.html</ref>