Edward Rider Cook (4 June 1836 – 21 August 1898)[1] was an English soap manufacturer and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1886.
Cook was born at Whitechapel,[2] the son of Edward Cook of Crix, Hatfield Peverel, Essex and his wife Anne Rider.[3] He was educated at City of London School, and at University College, London, where he studied theoretical and analytical chemistry.[3] He was senior partner in the firm of Edward Cook & Co., soap makers and chemical manufacturers of Bow. In 1865, he became a member for Poplar at the Metropolitan Board of Works.[3] He was chairman of the unsuccessful London Riverside Fish Market Co. of Shadwell,[3] [4] Honorary Treasurer of Society of Chemical Industry[3] and its President from 1890–91,[5] and a Conservator of River Lea. He was also F.C.S., a J.P. for Middlesex and was described as an advanced Liberal.[6]
He was elected at the 1885 general election as Member of Parliament (MP) for West Ham North, but lost the seat in the 1886 general election.[7]
Cook married firstly Edith Piper in 1860, and secondly Ellen Leonard of Clifton, Bristol in 1873. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage at his residence, Woodford House, Woodford Green, Essex, in August 1898 aged 62.[8] [9] [10]
. F. W. S. Craig . British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 . 1974 . 2nd . 1989 . Parliamentary Research Services . Chichester . 0-900178-27-2 . 206.