A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Cooke, William Henry
COOKE. (Lieutenant, 1812. f-p., 15; h-p., 33.)
William Henry Cooke entered the Navy 1 May, 1799, as A.B., on board the Boadicea 38 Capt. Rich. Goodwin Keats, part of the force employed under Rear-Admiral Chas. Morice Pole in an attack made on a Spanish squadron in Aix Roads, 2 July following. In March, 1801, he accompanied the same officer, as Midshipman, into the Superb 74; and, continuing to serve with him in that ship until Nov. 1808, took a warm part in the victory gained by Sir Jas. Saumarez over the Franco-Spanish squadron near Cadiz, 12 July, 1801 – shared in Lord Nelson’s pursuit of the combined fleets to the West Indies in the summer of 1805 – was present under Sir John Thos. Duckworth in the battle of St. Domingo, 6 Feb. 1806 – and attended the expedition against Copenhagen in Sept. 1807. From Nov. 1808, until Oct. 1810, Mr. Cooke next officiated as Acting-Lieutenant of the Kite sloop, Capts. Joseph James and Benjamin Crispin, on the Baltic station. He then, for a few months, joined the San Josef 110, flag-ship in the Mediterranean of Sir Chas. Cotton; and, in Feb. 1811, was again appointed to an Acting-Lieutenancy in the Repulse 74, Capts. John Halliday and Rich. Hussey Moubray, on the latter station, where he was confirmed by the Admiralty, 12 Oct. 1812. Since 8 June, 1814, when the Repulse was paid off, Lieut. Cooke has been on half-pay.