Sir Thomas Cookes, 2nd Baronet

Sir Thomas Cookes, 2nd Baronet (bap. 1648 – 8 June 1701), benefactor of Worcester College, Oxford, was the eldest son of Sir William Cookes, 1st Baronet, of Norgrove Court, Worcestershire, and his second wife, Mercy, née Dinely.

Cookes began his studies at Pembroke College, Oxford in June 1667, going on to Lincoln's Inn in June 1669. Following the death of his father, he succeeded to the baronetcy in July 1672, and on 28 August 1672 he married Mary Windsor, the daughter of Thomas Hickman-Windsor, 1st Earl of Plymouth, and niece of George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax. His seat was Bentley Pauncefote at Tardebigge, Worcestershire.

Cookes's wife died on 3 January 1695, and on 6 December 1695 he married Lucy Whalley. Both of Cookes's marriages were without issue, though his name was preserved through donations to educational institutions such as Bromsgrove School and Feckenham School. In his will, Cookes left £10,000 in trust to endow a new college at Oxford University or to add to an existing foundation there, at which priority for acceptance should be for students from Bromsgrove and Feckenham schools, and to Cookes's relatives.

In respect of the endowment for an Oxford college, Benjamin Woodroffe, the principal of Gloucester Hall, gained a charter of incorporation and laid down statutes for the new college, but Cookes did not like its terms. John Baron, the future master of Balliol College and later Vice-chancellor of the University, then made representations for the endowment. Both parties dealt directly with Cookes and preached sermons on charity in Feckenham church (Baron in 1699, Woodroffe in 1700), as well as producing printed arguments in 1702.

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