COOK, SIR JOSEPH (186o— ), Australian politician, was born at Silverdale, Staffs., and at the age of nine started life in a coal-mine. In 1885 he went to Australia and, six years later, entered the New South Wales Legislature, holding office as post master-general 1894-98 and minister of mines and agriculture 1898-99. He was elected to the Commonwealth Parliament for Parramatta as a free trader in Igor and became minister for defence under Deakin 19o9--io. In 1913, after the defeat of the Labour party, he became Premier and retained office until imme diately after the outbreak of the World War. He did not take office again until 1917, when he was minister for the navy in W. M. Hughes's second ministry. From 1921 tO 1927 he was high commissioner in London for the Commonwealth. In 1922 he was senior Australian delegate to the third Assembly of the League of Nations.