COOKE, BENJAMIN, a highly-distinguished composer and organist, was the son of Ilenjsinin Cooke, a music-publisher in New-street, Covent Garden. Ile was born in 1739, and before he had attained his ninth year became the pupil of the celebrated Dr. Pepusch, under whom ho made such progress, that when only twelve years old he was found capable of doing the duty of organist at Westminster Abbey, as deputy of Mr. Robinson, son-in-law and successor to Dr. Croft. On the death of Peptisch in 1752, Cooke was chosen as con ductor of the Academy of Ancient Music, which office he bold till 1789, when be relinquished it to Dr. Arnold. In 1757 he succeeded Bernard Oates as lay-clerk and master of the choristers at Westminster Abbey, and in 1762 was appointed organist of that venerable church. In 1777 the University of Cambridge conferred on him the degree of Doctor in Musics In 1782, after a severe contest, in which Dr. Burney was his chief opponent, he was elected organist of St. Martin-in-the Fields. iu 1784 he was nominated by Oeorge III. as one of the sub directors of the famous Commemoration of Handel. He died in 1793,
leaving two sons, one of whom Robert Cooke, followed his father's profession, and became organist of the abbey on the decease of Dr. Arnold; but shortly after, in a fit of insanity, threw himself into the Thames, and was drowned.
Dr. Cooke's compositions were chiefly for the Academy of Ancient Music, the Church, and the Cstoh Club. For the first he made the important additions, so well known to connoisseurs, to Oalliard's 'Moroing Hymn.' For the church be wrote a service and two anthems, which have always been highly esteemed. To the Catch Club he contributed his fine glees, ' In the merry month of May,' How sleep the brave," Hark f the lark,' As now the shades of eve,' &c.; and obtained seven of the gold prize medals given by that society. He was the intimate friend of Sir John Hawkins, the musical historian—who profited much by the occasional hints of so learned a professor—and the master of some of the deservedly celebrated musicians of the last and present age.