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.

Wenman Coke

For his grandson, see Wenman Coke (1828–1907).

Background

Anne Coke, mother of Wenman Coke

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

Holkham Hall, Norfolk

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