John Cooke and the Admiralty (1802-1805)
Both were probably sold as broadsheet
maps, i.e. individually printed and sold in small numbers although the first may
have been specifically produced for local planning use; the latter was sold commercially
(… sold by all booksellers). Nonetheless, these two maps show that John
Cooke was both active for the Admiralty between 1802 and 1805, was also publisher,
and had moved to Camden before 1805. Later he would use the term late engraver
to the Admiralty.
Alexander Dalrymple (1737-1808)
was appointed as the first Hydrographer to the Admiralty in 1795 and the first
admiralty chart appeared in November 1800 after a rolling press was purchased:
Moore´s plan of the island Houat in Quiberon Bay. John Cooke and Isaac Palmer
were both engaged as plan engravers, possibly part-time as both were said to
have private businesses outside the Admiralty. Besides these two, Thomas Harmar
(writing engraver) and James Andrews and Francis Higgins (draughtsmen) and
Richard Bailey (copper-plate printer) worked under their supervisor, John Walker. [1]
Apparently, there was
some sort of dispute and Cooke was sacked in 1804 or 1805 but he petitioned the
Admiralty about “unfair dismissal” with the matter dragging on until 1807 or 1808.
According to Nicholas Tracy, Cooke applied repeatedly for an increase in pay,
which at that time was £136.10s (compared to Dalrymple´s own £1500 p.a.). If ,
as Nicholas Tracy alleges, Cooke was actually dismissed for taking a portfolio
out of his office, one wonders whether there is a link to the map of Denmark here.
Dalrymple himself was dismissed for rudeness in 1808 and died the same year,
being replaced by Captain Thomas Hurd. Given Cooke´s earlier publication of his
atlas, he may well have been disgruntled that he did not receive better recognition
and pay.[2]
This was at a time when an engraver typically received only about £10 a plate.
Perhaps it is best left
to rely on Cooke’s own account. The final page of his Synopsis which
would not appear until 1812, reviewed the early history of the Admiralty Office.
“Also The Hon. Board of Admiralty have an Hydrographical Office, which was
under the Direction of the late Alexander Dalrymple Esq. for the
regulation of Surveys and Sea Charts of the Coast of the different parts of the
Globe, particularly our own; which have been surveyed by Mr McKenzie,
and Mr G[r]aeme Spence, who we are much indebted to, for their care and
attention while in office; there is also an office at the Admiralty where Engravers
are employed in the same manner as at the Tower, to engrave the different
Surveys; but the whole of the Hydrographical Department was very indifferently
managed for several years, the Hydrographer being too infirm to attend to his
office. In 1808 a committee was appointed to regulate and examine Sea Charts in
general, and report the progress made. Soon afterwards Mr Dalrymple died,
being upwards of 70 Years of age, therefore great benefit may be in future
expected from this department, Charts being engraved particularly for the Navy,
now under the direction of Captain Hurd, the present Hydrographer.”
Dr
Cook believes that John Cooke was employed as a “plan engraver” as distinct from
a “writing engraver”. Plan engraving was the second rung up the ladder in engraving:
first were the engravers of borders and graticules, then plans, writing and hills,
with the latter being most difficult. At about the time in question this work was
done by Francis Harmar.
A
leading figure at the Admiralty at this time was the future king: William IV was
christened William Henry (born 21 August 1765) and became King of the United
Kingdom and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death on 20 June 1837. As he
had two elder brothers, he was not expected to inherit the Crown and, at the
age of thirteen, joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman and was present at the
Battle of Cape St. Vincent. He landed in Plymouth in 1780 with his brother Prince
George, The Prince of Wales, with the news of Rodney's victory and relief of
Gibraltar. He served in New York in the American War of Independence.[3]
William
became Lieutenant in 1785, was in Plymouth[4] in
1786, when he was appointed Captain of the Frigate, Pegasus, before his
21st birthday, and was stationed in the West Indies as Captain. He came to the
attention of Horatio Nelson, who had a high regard for his naval talents. Having
earned the disfavour
of his father, he was compelled to spend another period in Plymouth and the story
is that during this time William threatened to run for the House of Commons as
MP for Totnes, Devon, before George III created him Duke of Clarence in 1789. Subsequently,
the Duke ceased active service in the Royal Navy and was promoted to Rear-Admiral
and in 1811, he was appointed Admiral of the Fleet. King William was succeeded
by his niece, Queen Victoria. Although there is no evidence they met, and no
reason why they should, that the Duke of Clarence was at the Admiralty and
visited Plymouth is interesting.
Although
we have no Admiralty work signed by Cooke, we have two maps prepared while
employed there. The first is Improvements
... between the Royal Exchange and Finsbury Square. This rather simple street plan shows the
area between Finsbury Square to the north and the Bank of England to the south.
Houses to the west and east sides of the Bank would be affected as well as all
the area as far as Broker Row. Bethlem ('Bedlam') Hospital would need to be
removed and the extensive ''London Amphitheatre'' replace it, flanked to the
west and east by Great and Little Moorgate. A “New Street” joining Bank to
Amphitheatre would comprise at least 60 houses with gardens, stables and coach-houses
suitable for ''opulent Citizens'' by an 80-ft wide street.
Clerk of the City Works was George Dance (1741-1825), responsible for the
development of the London Amphitheatre. This was designed in 1802 and would be executed
by William Montague. Sir John Soane’s Museum has three drawings of George Dance's
proposed improvements. Two of these three drawings are John Cooke’s engraving
with different pencil / ink markings and / or wash colouring.
A further example
held at the Museum appears to be an exact copy, but although the title wording is
identical, the arrangement above is different and a simpler coat of arms is used.
The signature is that of Francis Edwards and a cursive, flowing script
replaces Cooke´s simpler script.
This map, produced
by Cooke while still at the Board of Admiralty, includes the Guildhall address,
Office of Works, in the left corner of the plan. This
office was established in 1378 to oversee the building and maintenance of Crown
property such as royal castles and residences. It was reformed in 1832. Sir
John Soane (1753-1837) was a distinguished architect becoming professor for
architecture at the Royal Academy as well as official architect to the Office
of Works. Francis Edwards (1784-1857) was his foremost pupil and became a notable
architect in his own right. It could be that he drew the original plan of the
Finsbury Square project.
Another plan of the same project was A Plan of Proposed Improvements … Laid down from the City Plan by J Luffman, Geogr.1802.[5] This was J Luffman who published A New Pocket Atlas and Geography of England and Wales in 1803. This had attractive but very small county maps within circular frames (see Fig. 17, Devonshire). His premises at 28, Little Bell Alley were just off Coleman Street which is shown just left of the new road coloured red, indicating planned renovation.
The second map with Cooke still claiming be an Admiralty employee was
dated May 15. 1805. The map of Denmark, Holstein, Hamburgh, Lübek & Eutin,
... is signed By John Cooke Engraver to the Admiralty and his address is still 11, Pratt Place in Camden. However, this sheet
was clearly sold as a loose sheet, despite not being priced. We are told that
the map is published for John
Cooke and that it is available at all booksellers.
Links to sections of I - London
John Cooke of Howland Street (1799-1805)
The Ladies Circular Atlas and “Mr Barrow”
The Rev. Thomas Smith & The Universal Atlas
John Cooke and the Admiralty (1802-1805)
Between the Admiralty and Plymouth (1805-1812)
Links to section II - Plymouth.
Stonehouse (1813-1845)
Napoleon and Cooke´s first Plymouth engravings
The Copper-Plate Engraving, and Printing Office (1815-21)
John Cooke of Union Street, Stonehouse (1823-1845)
Summary
Return to Introduction
Link to IV: Short List of John Cooke's works.
Notes to John Cooke and the Admiralty (1802-1805)[1] I am indebted to Dr Andrew
Cook for providing initial information about Cooke´s time at the Admiralty. The
early days of the Hydrographic Office are recounted in Pacific Empires:
Essays in honour of Glyndwr Williams; ed. by Alan Frost and Jane Samson; UBC
Press; British Columbia; 1999.
[2] The story of Cooke´s
dismissal is from Britannia´s Palette: The Arts of Naval Victory; Nicholas
Tracy; McGill-Queen´s University Press; Ottawa and Ontario; 2007. Dr Cook
suggested his dismissal was as early as 1804. Nicholas Tracy writes that
"By 1807 three engravers worked for him", i.e. Dalrymple.
[3] There is even a story that George Washington approved
a plan to kidnap the Prince at this time.
[4] The port of Plymouth was the most important centre in
England for the sale of enemy prize ships, and at one time, it is recorded, that
one could walk all the way from Sutton Harbour to Turnchapel, across the decks
of such vessels, awaiting sale.
[5] Copy at BL, Maps Crace Port.
17.18.
Another copy at CUL.
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