Republic of Texas Figure. Born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, he was in the medical drug business when he moved to New Orleans and volunteered for the New Orleans Grays in 1835. He arrived with a company of the New Orleans Grays at Velasco, Texas, in October 1835, was elected 1st Lieutenant and after arrival at Bexar on November 8, 1835, was elected Captain of his company and raised volunteers. At the Siege of Bexar, he led a party that captured the post house on the main plaza, forcing the Mexican capitulation to surrender. Shortly after the arrival of Sam Houston, Cooke offered his services to the Texas Army and was sent with his company to Refugio to join with Colonel James Fannin's troops. Ordered to proceed to the Rio Grande, he received a letter from Colonel William Grant to go to Goliad, where he joined General Houston's staff. He assisted Houston in organizing the troops and at the Battle of San Jacinto March 13, 1836, he served as Houston's chief of staff with the rank of Major. After the battle he was in charge of the guard of the prisoners which included General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. After the Texas Revolution, he was appointed stock commissioner in Houston's first administration and received a commission as Quartermaster General of the Texas Republic in 1838. On September 2, 1844, he was elected as a representative from Bexar County to the House of the Ninth Congress and served one term as chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs. In April 1846, he was appointed the first Adjutant General of the State of Texas by Governor James Henderson and served in office until his death from tuberculosis.
Republic of Texas Figure. Born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, he was in the medical drug business when he moved to New Orleans and volunteered for the New Orleans Grays in 1835. He arrived with a company of the New Orleans Grays at Velasco, Texas, in October 1835, was elected 1st Lieutenant and after arrival at Bexar on November 8, 1835, was elected Captain of his company and raised volunteers. At the Siege of Bexar, he led a party that captured the post house on the main plaza, forcing the Mexican capitulation to surrender. Shortly after the arrival of Sam Houston, Cooke offered his services to the Texas Army and was sent with his company to Refugio to join with Colonel James Fannin's troops. Ordered to proceed to the Rio Grande, he received a letter from Colonel William Grant to go to Goliad, where he joined General Houston's staff. He assisted Houston in organizing the troops and at the Battle of San Jacinto March 13, 1836, he served as Houston's chief of staff with the rank of Major. After the battle he was in charge of the guard of the prisoners which included General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. After the Texas Revolution, he was appointed stock commissioner in Houston's first administration and received a commission as Quartermaster General of the Texas Republic in 1838. On September 2, 1844, he was elected as a representative from Bexar County to the House of the Ninth Congress and served one term as chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs. In April 1846, he was appointed the first Adjutant General of the State of Texas by Governor James Henderson and served in office until his death from tuberculosis.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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