Dr. Benjamin Cooke's Protest

The Freemantle Collection

Guide to the Freemantle Collection in the Leeds University Special Collections and the significant materials that can be found within.

Charles Dibdin

Charles Dibdin's comic operas. Part of an exhibition at Leeds Special Collections about the collecting activities of W. T. Freemantle.

Charles Dibdin's 'Table Entertainments'

Charles Dibdin's one-man shows. Part of an exhibition at Leeds Special Collections about the collecting activities of W. T. Freemantle.

Dr. Benjamin Cooke's Protest

Dr. Benjamin Cooke protests at losing his post. Part of an exhibition at Leeds Special Collections about the collecting activities of W. T. Freemantle.

E. J. Loder's 'Manfred'

E. J. Loder's musical setting of Manfred. Part of an exhibition at Leeds Special Collections about the collecting activities of W. T. Freemantle.

W. T. Freemantle the composer

W. T. Freemantle as a composer. Part of an exhibition at Leeds Special Collections about the collecting activities of W. T. Freemantle.

Mendelssohn's 'Christe du Lamm Gottes'

Autograph score of Mendelssohn's 'Christe du Lamm Gottes'. Part of an exhibition at Leeds Special Collections about the collecting activities of W. T. Freemantle.

Mendelssohn's 'Allegro Brillante'

Mendelssohn's early compositional sketch 'Allegro Brillante'. Part of an exhibition at Leeds Special Collections about the collecting activities of W. T. Freemantle.

Mendelssohn's 'Auf Einer Gondel' and 'Elijah'

Mendelssohn's 'Elijah' and 'Auf Einer Gondel'. Part of an exhibition at Leeds Special Collections about the collecting activities of W. T. Freemantle.

Symington the 'thief'!

John Alexander Symington and the Library of Congress. Part of an exhibition at Leeds Special Collections about the collecting activities of W. T. Freemantle.

Benjamin Cooke (1734-1793) was an English organist, composer and musician. He became the organist for Westminster Abbey in 1762 and found compositional success through his prize-winning glees, which became public favourites. Cooke was the musical director at the Academy of Ancient Musick in London until 1789 when he was replaced by Dr. Samuel Arnold, who took over the academy’s concert series.

Cooke was disgruntled by this spurning from the Academy’s membership and this re-discovered document, 'Dr. Benjamin Cooke’s Protest', shows his anger at being forced to resign. This is the letter that was written to be delivered at the General Meeting of the society in 1790. Cooke’s upset over his dismissal is understandable as he had been involved with the Academy for 46 years. The Protest sheds light onto Cooke’s life and also the workings of the Academy of Ancient Musick.

Also in the Freemantle Collection is an autograph draft of a biography on Benjamin Cooke by his son, Henry Cooke, titled 'The Memoir of Dr. Benjamin Cooke'. This references his father's dismay at being dismissed.