Richard Cocks facts for kids

Richard Cocks (1566–1624) was an important English merchant. He led the British East India Company's trading center in Hirado, Japan. This center was open from 1613 until 1623. It closed because the company ran out of money.

Richard Cocks' Early Life

Richard Cocks was born in 1566 in Staffordshire, England. He was one of seven children. When he was young, he moved to London. There, he became an apprentice. This means he learned a trade, probably working with cloth. He joined a group called the Clothworkers' Company.

A New Start in Japan

Later, Richard Cocks lived in France for a while. He faced some difficulties there. After losing money, he decided to leave England. He wanted to start a new life far away. Japan offered him this chance.

Richard Cocks in Japan

Richard Cocks arrived in Japan in 1613. He became the leader of the British East India Company's trading post. This was a place where English merchants bought and sold goods. It was located in a town called Hirado.

His Detailed Diary

During his time in Japan, Richard Cocks kept a very detailed diary. This diary is super important today. It tells us a lot about Japan in the early 1600s. It also describes what the English merchants were doing there.

One of the people he wrote about was William Adams. William Adams was an English sailor. He became a trusted advisor to the powerful Japanese leader, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Cocks wrote that he and Adams even met with a high-ranking admiral. They talked about big plans for the future.

A Look at Old Japan

The diary and other papers from the trading post are special. They give us a unique look at Japan from a Western point of view. They show us what life was like back then.

The End of the Trading Post

In 1623, the trading post in Hirado closed. The company had financial problems. Richard Cocks then left Japan. He sailed back towards England on a ship called the Anne Royal. Sadly, he died during the journey. He was buried at sea in 1624.