The Cook Memorial pic © M Peterson
Ms Bright-Chard of London has supplied us with the following information.
James Cook was born in Bridgwater in 1835 to a local family. After qualifying as a lawyer he set up a law firm in the town with a Mr Reed. Noted as a very competent and able lawyer, his defence in a case on criminal cash transactions led to a new Act of Parliament being put on the books in 1875. He served as Town Clerk for eleven years but retired due to ill health. His last public appearance was the opening of the library on Binford Place in 1906. When he retired the town's people presented him with a solid silver tea service. He suffered paralysis for twenty five years until his death, aged 76. He left over £1000 to the deserving poor of the borough and £300 to St Mary's Church for a new stained glass window. He also left a staggering £12000 each to the hospitals of Bridgwater and Taunton.
His memorial is reputed to be 'the finest piece of monumental masonry this side of Bristol'. It is Listed, Grade II.