His 4 1/4-inch equatorials
are perfect gems; and his admirable achromatics, many of them of
the largest class, are known all over the world. Altogether,
Thomas Cooke was a remarkable instance of the power of Self-Help.
Such was the story of his Life, as communicated by Mr. Nasmyth.
I was afterwards enabled, through the kind assistance of his
widow, Mrs. Cooke, whom I saw at Saltburn, in Yorkshire, to add a
few particulars to his biography.
"My husband," she said, "was the son of a working shoemaker at
Pocklington, in the East Riding. He was born in 1807. His
father's circumstances were so straitened that he was not able to
do much for him; but he sent him to the National school, where he
received some education. He remained there for about two years,
and then he was put to his father's trade. But he greatly
disliked shoemaking, and longed to get away from it. He liked
the sun, the sky, and the open air. He was eager to be a sailor,
and, having heard of the voyages of Captain Cook, he wished to go
to sea. He spent his spare hours in learning navigation, that he
might be a good seaman. But when he was ready to set out for
Hull, the entreaties and tears of his mother prevailed on him to
give up the project; and then he had to consider what he should
do to maintain himself at home.
"He proceeded with his self-education, and with such small aids
as he could procure, he gathered together a good deal of
knowledge.
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