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Lorrin A. Cooke

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Lorrin Alanson Cooke
57th Governor of Connecticut
In office
January 6, 1897 – January 4, 1899
LieutenantJames D. Dewell
Preceded byOwen Vincent Coffin
Succeeded byGeorge E. Lounsbury
66th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut
In office
January 9, 1895 – January 6, 1897
GovernorOwen Vincent Coffin
Preceded byErnest Cady
Succeeded byJames D. Dewell
62nd Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut
In office
January 8, 1885 – January 7, 1887
GovernorHenry B. Harrison
Preceded byGeorge G. Sumner
Succeeded byJames L. Howard
Member of the Connecticut Senate from the 18th district
In office
1883-1885
Member of the Connecticut General Assembly
In office
1856
Personal details
BornApril 6, 1831
New Marlborough, Massachusetts
DiedAugust 12, 1902 (aged 71)
Winsted, Connecticut
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
  • Matilda Eunice Webster Cooke
  • Josephine Ward Cooke
Children3

Lorrin Alanson Cooke (April 6, 1831 – August 12, 1902) was an American politician and the 57th governor of Connecticut from 1897 to 1899.

Biography

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Cooke was born in New Marlborough, Massachusetts, the son of Levi Cooke and Amelia (Todd) Cooke. He was educated at Norfolk Academy in Connecticut, For several years after high school, he taught school in the Norfolk area in the winter and worked on his father's farm in the summer. By 1850, when Lorrin was nineteen, the Cooke family had moved to Colebrook. As a young farmer, he wanted to learn about and use the latest developments in agriculture. He joined the local agricultural society, was elected president, and his leadership began to develop.

Career

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Cooke worked with railroad officials to route a train through the remote Colebrook area, increasing sales as produce was freighted to the big city, and the town prospered. His election to the Connecticut General Assembly as the representative from the town of Colebrook in 1856, when he was only 25 years old, gave him his first experiences in state politics. He was married in 1858 to Matilda Eunice Webster, and married Josephine Ward in 1870.[1] He had no children with his first wife and three with his second; Edward, Ward, and Edna. Only Edna lived to adulthood.[2]

Cooke served as postmaster for Riverton, Connecticut, from 1877 to 1881, as state senator for the 18th District in the Connecticut State Senate from 1883 to 1885, and was President Pro Tempore of the Senate from 1884 to 1885.

In 1885 Cooke became the 62nd lieutenant governor of Connecticut. He held that position from 1885 to 1887. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Connecticut in 1892. He served again (as the 66th lieutenant governor) from 1895 to 1897.[3]

Cooke was elected the governor of Connecticut in 1896, and served from January 6, 1897, to January 4, 1899. During his term, he was successful in his attempts in leaving a financially sound state treasury, even with increased governmental expenditures, which resulted from the outbreak of the Spanish–American War. After leaving the office, Cooke remained active in civic events.[4]

Death

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Cooke died in Winsted, Connecticut, on August 12, 1902. He is interred at Center Cemetery, Colebrook, Connecticut.

References

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  1. ^ "Lorrin A. Cooke". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  2. ^ "Lorrin A. Cooke". Connecticut State Library. Archived from the original on 6 January 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  3. ^ "Lorrin A. Cooke". Connecticut State Library. Archived from the original on 6 January 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  4. ^ "Lorrin A. Cooke". National Governors Association. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
[edit]
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Connecticut
1896
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut
1885-1887
Succeeded by
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut
1895-1897
Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Connecticut
1897–1899
Succeeded by