Cooke George Frederick

Cooke, George Frederick, was born in Westminster in 1756, and brought up as a printer, but took to the stage. He made his first appearance in London at the Haymarket theatre in 1778, but met with little appreciation. He then made himself a considerable name in the provinces and especially in Dublin. In 1800 he once more appealed to the London public in Richard III., and was received with enthusiasm. For ten years he was regarded as second only to John Kemble. He was induced to go to America in 1810, and died there in 1811, his irregular habits having broken his magnificent constitution. Edmund Kean caused a monument to be erected on his grave.