Wenman Coke (d. 1776)
Encyclopedia
Wenman Coke known as Wenman Roberts until 1750, was a British landowner and politician.
, including the Coke family seat of Holkham Hall
, Norfolk
.
in 1772. At the 1774 general election he was returned for both Derby and Norfolk
, and chose to sit for the latter. He continued to represent this constituency until his death two years later.
succeeded him as Member of Parliament for Norfolk and became an influential agricultural reformer. In 1837 the earldom of Leicester
was revived in his favour. Wenman Coke died in 1776. His wife survived him by over 30 years and died in 1810.
Background
Born Wenman Roberts, he was the son of Major Philip Roberts and Anne, daughter of Edward Coke. He assumed the surname of Coke in lieu of his patronymic in 1750. In 1759 he succeeded to the substantial estates of his uncle, Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of LeicesterThomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester (fifth creation)
Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester, KB was a wealthy English land-owner and patron of the arts. He is particularly noted for commissioning the design and construction of Holkham Hall in north Norfolk. Between 1722 and 1728, he was Member of Parliament for Norfolk.He was the son of Edward Coke ...
, including the Coke family seat of Holkham Hall
Holkham Hall
Holkham Hall is an eighteenth-century country house located adjacent to the village of Holkham, on the north coast of the English county of Norfolk...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
.
Political career
Coke was returned to Parliament for DerbyDerby (UK Parliament constituency)
Derby is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1950. It was represented by two Members of...
in 1772. At the 1774 general election he was returned for both Derby and Norfolk
Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)
Norfolk was a County constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. It was represented by two Members of Parliament...
, and chose to sit for the latter. He continued to represent this constituency until his death two years later.
Family
Coke married Elizabeth, daughter of George Chamberlayne, in 1776. They had several children. His son ThomasThomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester (seventh creation)
Thomas William Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester , known as Coke of Norfolk, was a British politician and agricultural reformer. Born to Wenman Coke, Member of Parliament for Derby and his wife Elizabeth, Coke was educated at several schools, including Eton College, before undertaking a Grand Tour of...
succeeded him as Member of Parliament for Norfolk and became an influential agricultural reformer. In 1837 the earldom of Leicester
Earl of Leicester
The title Earl of Leicester was created in the 12th century in the Peerage of England , and is currently a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, created in 1837.-Early creations:...
was revived in his favour. Wenman Coke died in 1776. His wife survived him by over 30 years and died in 1810.