Nicholas Cooke

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Cooke and other Rhode Island Merchants in "Sea Captains Carousing in Surinam" from 1755

Nicholas Cooke (1717 - 22 February 1782), was the first Governor of Rhode Island after it became a state of the United States of America, holding that office from November 1775 to May 1778.

Cooke had been a sea captain and operated a distillery and a ropemaking business. He was a member of Beneficent Congregational Church from 1747 to his death. In 1768 and 1775, he was elected Deputy Governor of Rhode Island; he became Governor in the latter year when Tory sympathizer Joseph Wanton left office.

[edit] References

• Nicholas Cooke papers, from the Rhode Island Historical Society

v • d • e Governors of Rhode Island Cooke • Greene • Collins • A. Fenner • H. Smith • Wilbour • J. Fenner • Jones • Knight • Gibbs • J. Fenner • Arnold • Francis • Sprague III • King • J. Fenner • Jackson • Diman • Harris • Anthony • Allen • Dimond • Hoppin • Dyer • Turner • Sprague IV • Cozzens • J. Smith • Burnside • Padelford • Howard • H. Lippitt • Van Zandt • Littlefield • Bourn • Wetmore • Davis • Taft • Ladd • Davis • Ladd • Brown • C. Lippitt • Dyer, Jr. • Gregory • Kimball • Garvin • Utter • Higgins • Pothier • Beeckman • San Souci • Flynn • Pothier • Case • Green • Quinn • Vanderbilt • McGrath • Pastore • McKiernan • Roberts • Del Sesto • Notte • Chafee • Licht • Noel • Garrahy • DiPrete • Sundlun • Almond • Carcieri