Thomas Cooke (mayor) facts for kids

Sir Thomas Cooke (around 1410-1478) was an important English merchant. He also served as the Lord Mayor of London, a very high position in the city.

Life and Career

Thomas Cooke was born in a town called Lavenham in Suffolk around 1410. He later moved to London and became a draper, which means he sold cloth.

He took on several important roles in London's government:

• He was a Sheriff of London from 1453 to 1454. A sheriff helped keep order and managed legal matters.
• He became an alderman in 1456. Aldermen were senior members of the city council.
• He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for the City of London in 1460 and again in 1470. An MP represents the city in the country's parliament.
• In 1462, he was chosen as the Lord Mayor of London for a year. This was the most powerful job in the city.
• He was made a knight in 1465, which meant he was given the title "Sir."

Building Gidea Hall

In 1467, Sir Thomas started building a large house called Gidea Hall. It was located near Romford in Essex. The house was so big that it wasn't finished during his lifetime. It was finally completed by one of his family members, Sir Anthony Cooke.

Legal Troubles

In 1467, Sir Thomas faced a serious accusation. He was accused of a crime against the king because he had lent money to Margaret, who was the queen of the previous king, Henry VI. This was seen as going against the current king.

Based on someone else's statement, Sir Thomas was put on trial. However, the judge, Chief Justice Markham, decided that it was a less serious crime. This decision saved Sir Thomas's life and his land. Even so, he had to pay a very large fine and was kept in prison for a long time.

While he was waiting for his trial in the Tower, his belongings were taken. His wife was also placed under the care of the mayor. After his trial, he was moved to different prisons until he paid a huge amount of money to the king and queen. Because the judge had ruled that Sir Thomas was not guilty of the most serious crime, the judge himself was later removed from his job.

Later Life and Family

Sir Thomas Cooke passed away in 1478 when he was about 68 years old. He was buried in a church in London.

He was married to Elizabeth, who was the daughter of Alderman Philip Malpas. They had one daughter and four sons. Their oldest son, Philip, later became a knight.

Sir Thomas Cooke's will (his last wishes for his property) showed that he owned many businesses. These included at least four places that made or sold drinks, as well as fishing spots. He also owned a large farm at Gidea Hall and many other properties in London and in the counties of Surrey, Essex, and Kent.

See also

• List of Sheriffs of the City of London
• List of Lord Mayors of London
• City of London (elections to the Parliament of England)