Philip Pendleton CookeAmerican lawyer and poet
Date of Birth: 26.10.1816
Country: USA |
Content:
Philip Cooke: American Lawyer and Poet
Philip Cooke, an American lawyer and poet, was born the brother of novelist John Cooke. His pursuit of higher education led him to Princeton University, where he composed notable poems such as "Song of the Sioux Lovers," "Autumn," and "Historical Ballads, No. 6 Persian: Dhu Nowas." His creative endeavors also extended to the short story "The Consumptive."
Legal Profession
Upon graduating in 1834, Cooke followed in his father's footsteps by choosing a career in law. Despite the encouragement and praise he received from literary figures like Rufus Wilmot Griswold and John Pendleton Kennedy, poetry remained a hobby rather than his primary pursuit. Even Edgar Poe, who highly valued Cooke's work and expressed a desire to publish it in his journal, could not sway him from his legal path.
Literary Legacy
In 1835, Cooke made the final decision to prioritize prose over poetry. Among his literary contributions, "Froissart ballads and other poems" and "Chevalier Merlin" stand as notable works that showcase his literary talent. Despite his shift in focus, Cooke's early poems and the praise they garnered from his contemporaries remain a testament to his creative abilities as both a poet and an author.