Daniel Pope Cook
Encyclopedia
Daniel Pope Cook was a politician from the U.S. state
of Illinois
.
He was born in Scott County, Kentucky
into a branch of the prominent Pope family of Kentucky
. He moved to Kaskaskia, Illinois
, in 1815 and began to practice law. Believing his future lay in the nation's capitol, he moved to Washington, D.C.
, where he hoped his uncle, Nathaniel Pope
, a delegate from the Illinois Territory
might be able to help. In 1817 he was sent to London
to bring back John Quincy Adams
, who was appointed to serve as Secretary of State
under James Monroe
. He became closely acquainted with Adams during the long return trip.
Shortly after he returned from England
, he moved back to Illinois
where he and a friend purchased The Illinois Herald newspaper from Matthew Duncan and renamed it The Western Intelligencer. Cook became an ardent supporter of statehood and used his newspaper to influence the Territorial Legislature.
He became the territorial Auditor of Public Accounts in 1816 and also served as judge of the western circuit. In 1818, he was unsuccessful in his first attempt to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
, losing to John McLean
by only 14 votes for the short term remaining after Illinois became a state. But the state legislature appointed him as the first Attorney General
of Illinois. Again running for Congress, Pope defeated McLean in the general elections later in 1818, and again in 1820 and 1822, and served as the second representative from Illinois (although he was the first to serve a full term). He was defeated by Joseph Duncan
when he ran for reelection in 1826. While in Congress, Cook served on the Committee on Public Lands and later on the Ways and Means Committee. He secured a grant of government lands to aid in the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal
. In 1824, he helped elect John Quincy Adams
as president when the election was thrown to the House.
Daniel Cook always suffered from poor health and died on October 16, 1827, at the age of 33 in Scott County, Kentucky. Four years after his death, Cook County, Illinois
was named in his honor. He is believed to have been buried in Kentucky.
In 1821, Cook married Julia Catherine Edwards, the daughter of Ninian Edwards
, governor of Illinois Territory (and who was related by marriage to the Pope family of Kentucky). Cook's son, John Cook, was a Union general in the Civil War
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
He was born in Scott County, Kentucky
Scott County, Kentucky
Scott County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 47,173 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Georgetown.Scott County is part of the Lexington–Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
into a branch of the prominent Pope family of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. He moved to Kaskaskia, Illinois
Kaskaskia, Illinois
Kaskaskia is a village in Randolph County, Illinois, United States. In the 2010 census the population was 14, making it the second-smallest incorporated community in the State of Illinois in terms of population. A major French colonial town of the Illinois Country, its peak population was about...
, in 1815 and began to practice law. Believing his future lay in the nation's capitol, he moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where he hoped his uncle, Nathaniel Pope
Nathaniel Pope
Nathaniel Pope was a politician and jurist from the U.S. state of Illinois.-Early life, education, and career:...
, a delegate from the Illinois Territory
Illinois Territory
The Territory of Illinois was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 1, 1809, until December 3, 1818, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Illinois. The area was earlier known as "Illinois Country" while under...
might be able to help. In 1817 he was sent to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to bring back John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
, who was appointed to serve as Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
under James Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
. He became closely acquainted with Adams during the long return trip.
Shortly after he returned from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he moved back to Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
where he and a friend purchased The Illinois Herald newspaper from Matthew Duncan and renamed it The Western Intelligencer. Cook became an ardent supporter of statehood and used his newspaper to influence the Territorial Legislature.
He became the territorial Auditor of Public Accounts in 1816 and also served as judge of the western circuit. In 1818, he was unsuccessful in his first attempt to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, losing to John McLean
John McLean (Illinois politician)
John McLean was a United States Representative and a Senator from Illinois.Born near Guilford Court House , Guilford County, North Carolina, February 4, 1791, McLean moved with his parents to Logan County, Kentucky in 1795. He moved to Illinois Territory in 1815...
by only 14 votes for the short term remaining after Illinois became a state. But the state legislature appointed him as the first Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
of Illinois. Again running for Congress, Pope defeated McLean in the general elections later in 1818, and again in 1820 and 1822, and served as the second representative from Illinois (although he was the first to serve a full term). He was defeated by Joseph Duncan
Joseph Duncan (politician)
Joseph Duncan was a U.S. politician. He served as the sixth Governor of Illinois from 1834 to 1838. He was a Democrat and a two-term U.S. Representative....
when he ran for reelection in 1826. While in Congress, Cook served on the Committee on Public Lands and later on the Ways and Means Committee. He secured a grant of government lands to aid in the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal
Illinois and Michigan Canal
The Illinois and Michigan Canal ran from the Bridgeport neighborhood in Chicago on the Chicago River to LaSalle-Peru, Illinois, on the Illinois River. It was finished in 1848 when Chicago Mayor James Hutchinson Woodworth presided over its opening; and it allowed boat transportation from the Great...
. In 1824, he helped elect John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
as president when the election was thrown to the House.
Daniel Cook always suffered from poor health and died on October 16, 1827, at the age of 33 in Scott County, Kentucky. Four years after his death, Cook County, Illinois
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
was named in his honor. He is believed to have been buried in Kentucky.
In 1821, Cook married Julia Catherine Edwards, the daughter of Ninian Edwards
Ninian Edwards
Ninian Edwards was a founding political figure of the state of Illinois. He served as the first and only governor of the Illinois Territory from 1809 to 1818, as one of the first two United States Senators from Illinois from 1818 to 1824, and as the third Governor of Illinois from 1826 to 1830...
, governor of Illinois Territory (and who was related by marriage to the Pope family of Kentucky). Cook's son, John Cook, was a Union general in the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
External links
- Daniel Pope Cook from Cook County, Illinois