Wenman Coke (died 1776)
Wenman Coke (ca. 1717 – 11 April 1776), known as Wenman Roberts until 1750, was a British landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1753 and 1776.
- For his grandson, see Wenman Coke (1828–1907).
Background
Born Wenman Roberts, he was the son of Major Philip Roberts and Anne Coke, daughter of Edward Coke and Carey Newton. He assumed the surname of Coke (pronounced "Cook") in lieu of his patronymic in 1750. In 1759 he succeeded to the substantial estates of his uncle, Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester, including the Coke family seat of Holkham Hall, Norfolk. Wenman's great-great grandfather, Sir Lewes Roberts (1596–1641), was a British merchant with the Levant and East India companies and an economist/writer on foreign commerce topics. His mother descended from Sir Edward Coke.
Political career
Coke was returned to Parliament for Derby 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.
Family
Wenman Coke died in 1776. He had married Elizabeth Chamberlayne, daughter of George Chamberlayne and had several children. His wife survived him by over 30 years and died in 1810.
His son Thomas succeeded him to Holkham Hall and as Member of Parliament for Norfolk. He became an influential agricultural reformer and in 1837 the earldom of Leicester was revived in his favour.
References
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Phillipson Viscount Coke |
Member of Parliament for Harwich 1753–1761 With: John Phillipson 1753–1756 Viscount Duncannon 1756–1758 Thomas Sewell 1758–1761 |
Succeeded by Charles Townshend John Roberts |
| Preceded by Robert Vyner George Brydges Rodney |
Member of Parliament for Okehampton 1761–1768 With: Alexander Forrester |
Succeeded by Thomas Pitt Thomas Brand |
| Preceded by Lord Frederick Cavendish William Fitzherbert |
Member of Parliament for Derby 1772–1774 With: Lord Frederick Cavendish |
Succeeded by Lord Frederick Cavendish John Gisborne |
| Preceded by Thomas de Grey Sir Edward Astley |
Member of Parliament for Norfolk 1774–1776 With: Sir Edward Astley |
Succeeded by Sir Edward Astley Thomas Coke |