Charles Cocks, 1st Baron Somers

Who was Charles Cocks, 1st Baron Somers?

Charles Cocks, 1st Baron Somers, known as Sir Charles Cocks, 1st Baronet, from 1772 to 1784, was a British politician.

Cocks was the son of John Cocks and his wife Mary. His paternal grandfather Charles Cocks was the husband of Mary, sister and co-heiress of John Somers, 1st Baron Somers, Lord Chancellor of England. He was elected to the House of Commons for Reigate in 1747, a seat he held until 1784. Cocks was created a baronet, of Dumbleton in the County of Gloucester, in 1772 and in 1784 the barony held by his great-uncle was revived when he was raised to the peerage as Baron Somers, of Evesham in the County of Worcester.

Lord Somers married, firstly, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Eliot, in 1759. After her death in 1771 he married, secondly, Anne, daughter of Reginald Pole, in 1772. There were children from both marriages. Lord Somers died in January 1806, aged 80, and was succeeded in his titles by his son from his first marriage, John, who was created Earl Somers in 1821. Anne, Lady Somers, died in 1833.