COCKS, Charles (1725-1806), of Castleditch, Herefs.

The Cocks family controlled one seat at Reigate which Charles Cocks held without opposition throughout his parliamentary career. As Hardwicke’s nephew he adhered to the Pelhams, and on 12 Dec. 1755 spoke in defence of the Russian and Hessian subsidy treaties. On 14 Nov. 1757 Hardwicke wrote to Newcastle asking for an office for Cocks:Add. 32875, f. 501. ‘He has been in Parliament 10 or 11 years, and always behaved there very diligently and very steadily notwithstanding temptations to the contrary.’ In December 1762 Cocks voted with the Administration over the peace preliminaries,P. C. Yorke, Hardwicke, iii. 441. and after the dismissals was offered the post of storekeeper of the Ordnance but on Hardwicke’s advice refused.Cocks to Chas. Yorke, 20 July 1765, Add. 35637, f. 198. He was classed by Jenkinson in the autumn of 1763 as ‘pro’; voted with the Administration on general warrants, 6 Feb. 1764, but with the Opposition on 15 and 18 Feb., and was counted by Newcastle on 10 May as a ‘sure friend’. Like most west country gentlemen he voted for the repeal of the cider tax, 10 and 17 Feb. 1764. On the formation of the Rockingham Administration he wrote to Lord Granby on 21 July (and an almost identical letter to his cousin Charles Yorke on the 20th), recalling his previous refusal of the storekeeper’s office, and concluding:Rutland mss.

If removals are to be made, in order to introduce strangers, I presume your Lordship will think with me, that I have a right to the refusal of any place at the board under the rank of lieutenant-general which is military, as I have constantly supported his Majesty’s Government ever since I have been in Parliament, now near twenty years.

When the former office holders were restored, and Cocks remained in the office he had held all through, he wrote to Yorke on 14 Sept.:Add. 35637, f. 257. ‘I ... am perfectly satisfied as to myself with the intended restitution which is but just and honourable. It gives me great pleasure to see so many Whigs restored to his Majesty’s service.’ Rockingham in July 1765 classed him as ‘pro’, but in November 1766 as ‘Swiss’. But Cocks voted with the Opposition on nullum tempus, 17 Feb. 1768. No vote by him is reported between 1769 and 1772. He was listed as ‘pro, present’ on the royal marriage bill, March 1772, and at this time was applying for a peerage, but only obtained a baronetcy. He voted with the Opposition on Grenville’s election bill, 25 Feb. 1774, but otherwise appears to have regularly supported Administration. His only recorded speeches during this Parliament were to move the yearly Ordnance estimates. In 1780 he thought of standing at Worcester but decided against it. No further votes by him are reported; during the early part of 1782 he was abroad for reasons of health, and in January 1784 was listed by Robinson as ‘absent’. But he was in the House on 20 Feb. 1784 when he ‘praised the virtues and talents of the minister and wondered how it could be imagined he should be turned out of office before he had an opportunity of proving to his country either his merits or his demerits’.Debrett, xiii. 182. Cocks did not stand again at the general election, having been promised a peerage.

He died 30 Jan. 1806.