William Cope, 1st Baron Cope
Encyclopedia
William Cope, 1st Baron Cope (18 August 1870 – 15 July 1946), known as Sir William Cope, Bt, between 1928 and 1945, was a Welsh
Conservative Party
politician, who was also notable as an international rugby union
player for Wales
. He was Member of Parliament
for Llandaff and Barry
from 1918 to 1929, was made a baronet
in 1928 and elevated to the peerage as Baron Cope in July 1945.
, Cardiff
in 1870, the son of Matthew Cope from St Mellons
and Margaret Harrison. He was educated at Repton School
before metriculating
to Clare College, Cambridge
in 1888. He was awarded his BA
in 1891 and in 1895 collected his MA
. After leaving Cambridge Cope began his legal profession and was admitted to the Inner Temple
, and in 1894 he was called to The Bar.
in 1914, Cope joined the Glamorgan Yeomanry
, rising to the rank of major. On returning to Britain in 1918, he ran for Parliament, standing for the seat of Llandaff and Barry. In 1923 he became a Junior Lord of the Treasury
, a post he held until 1928, with a break during the brief Labour Government of 1924. In 1928 he was created a Baronet, of St Mellons in the County of Monmouth. On leaving The Treasury he was given the role of Comptroller of the Royal Household
, a role he undertook for just a year when he left government in 1929. He held several offices in his home county of Glamorgan
. He was a Justice of the Peace
, and a Deputy Lieutenant
and in 1932 was made High Sheriff of Glamorgan
. In 1933 he was invested as a King's Council
. In July 1945 he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Cope, of St Mellons in the County of Monmouth.
while a student. In 1891 he played in The Varsity Match
against Oxford, gaining a sporting Blue. From 1891 through to 1895 Cope turned out for his home club of Cardiff
, and after leaving university he also represented first class English team Blackheath. During the 1891-1892 season Cope became a member of invitational team the Barbarians
in only their second year. Four years later Cope was selected to represent Wales as part of the 1896 Home Nations Championship
in a match against Scotland
. Cope was brought in to a much changed team after a disastrous opening match of the tournament against England; the selectors reacting to a 25-0 scoreline by selecing five new caps in the pack. Cope was one of the new members, who under the leadership of Arthur 'Monkey' Gould, managed to beat Scotland 6-0. Despite the victory, this was Cope's only international game, being replaced by a returning Arthur Boucher
in the next match of the Championship.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician, who was also notable as an international rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player for Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
. He was Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Llandaff and Barry
Llandaff and Barry (UK Parliament constituency)
Llandaff and Barry was a county constituency centred on the towns of Llandaff and Barry in Wales. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
from 1918 to 1929, was made a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1928 and elevated to the peerage as Baron Cope in July 1945.
Background and education
Cope was born in RoathRoath
Roath is a district in the east/north-east of the city of Cardiff, capital of Wales.It lies just east/north east of the city centre, stretching from Adamsdown in the south to Roath Park in the north. Roath contains the Plasnewydd electoral ward. The name is believed to originate from Irish ráth,...
, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
in 1870, the son of Matthew Cope from St Mellons
St Mellons
St Mellons is a district and suburb of eastern Cardiff, the capital city of Wales.-History:St Mellons began as a small commercial centre in the historic county of Monmouthshire, relying heavily on rural agriculture, farming and travel...
and Margaret Harrison. He was educated at Repton School
Repton School
Repton School, founded in 1557, is a co-educational English independent school for both day and boarding pupils, in the British public school tradition, located in the village of Repton, in Derbyshire, in the Midlands area of England...
before metriculating
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
to Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
in 1888. He was awarded his BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1891 and in 1895 collected his MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
. After leaving Cambridge Cope began his legal profession and was admitted to the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, and in 1894 he was called to The Bar.
Political career
With the outbreak of the First World WarWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in 1914, Cope joined the Glamorgan Yeomanry
Glamorgan Yeomanry
The Glamorgan Yeomanry were formed in 1797, when King George III was on the throne, William Pitt the Younger was the Prime Minister of Great Britain, and across the English Channel, Britain was faced by a French nation that had recently guillotined its King and possessed a revolutionary army...
, rising to the rank of major. On returning to Britain in 1918, he ran for Parliament, standing for the seat of Llandaff and Barry. In 1923 he became a Junior Lord of the Treasury
Lord of the Treasury
In the United Kingdom, there are at least six Lords of the Treasury who serve concurrently. Traditionally, this board consists of the First Lord of the Treasury, the Second Lord of the Treasury, and four or more junior lords .Strictly they are commissioners for exercising the office of Lord...
, a post he held until 1928, with a break during the brief Labour Government of 1924. In 1928 he was created a Baronet, of St Mellons in the County of Monmouth. On leaving The Treasury he was given the role of Comptroller of the Royal Household
Comptroller of the Household
The Comptroller of the Household is an ancient position in the English royal household, currently the second-ranking member of the Lord Steward's department, and often a cabinet member. He was an ex officio member of the Board of Green Cloth, until that body was abolished in the reform of the local...
, a role he undertook for just a year when he left government in 1929. He held several offices in his home county of Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
. He was a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, and a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
and in 1932 was made High Sheriff of Glamorgan
High Sheriff of Glamorgan
This page is a list of High Sheriffs of Glamorgan. Sheriffs of Glamorgan served under and were answerable to the independent Lords of Glamorgan until that lordship was merged into the crown. This is in contrast to sheriffs of the English shires who were from the earliest times officers of the crown...
. In 1933 he was invested as a King's Council
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
. In July 1945 he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Cope, of St Mellons in the County of Monmouth.
Rugby career
Cope first came to note as a rugby player when he played for Cambridge UniversityCambridge University R.U.F.C.
The Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club, or CURUFC, is the rugby union club of Cambridge University, and plays Oxford University in the annual Varsity Match at Twickenham stadium every December. CURUFC players wear light blue and white hooped jerseys with a red lion crest...
while a student. In 1891 he played in The Varsity Match
The Varsity Match
The Varsity Match is an annual rugby union fixture played between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England. By tradition, the match is held on the second Tuesday of December. In 2005, however, this changed, and the match was on Tuesday 6 December. In 2007, it was held on a Thursday for...
against Oxford, gaining a sporting Blue. From 1891 through to 1895 Cope turned out for his home club of Cardiff
Cardiff RFC
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union football club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since...
, and after leaving university he also represented first class English team Blackheath. During the 1891-1892 season Cope became a member of invitational team the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
in only their second year. Four years later Cope was selected to represent Wales as part of the 1896 Home Nations Championship
1896 Home Nations Championship
The 1896 Home Nations Championship was the fourteenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 4 January and 14 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.-Table:-Results:...
in a match against Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
. Cope was brought in to a much changed team after a disastrous opening match of the tournament against England; the selectors reacting to a 25-0 scoreline by selecing five new caps in the pack. Cope was one of the new members, who under the leadership of Arthur 'Monkey' Gould, managed to beat Scotland 6-0. Despite the victory, this was Cope's only international game, being replaced by a returning Arthur Boucher
Arthur Boucher
Arthur Boucher was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Newport. Boucher was an adaptable player, who although selected mainly as a forward, often played at centre. He was strong, quick for his position and passed well on the run...
in the next match of the Championship.