Lieutenant-General
1768-1837
Brother to the Duke of York's private
secretary, 'Kangaroo' Cooke, he was commissioned in the 1st Foot
Guards in 1784, and served in The Netherlands in 1794 and 1799
(severely wounded); major-general from June 1811, he took command
of the British troops Cadiz after Graham's criticism of the Spanish
at Barrosa precluded him from remaining in that command. Cooke
is best known as commander of the 1st Division (of Foot Guards)
at Waterloo, where he lost his right arm. he received the KCB
in October 1815 and became lieutenant-general in 1821; his sister
Penelope having married the 6th Earl Cardigan in 1794, Sir George
was uncle to the 7th Earl, of Crimea fame.
