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Dr Robert Cocks

After an accident falling from ship rigging, Robert returned to dry land to take up a new career. He qualified from Glasgow University as a doctor and came to work in Dundee where he built an extensive and popular practice.

Subscription value in 1863:

£50

Relative to inflation up to 2024:

£5000

Relative to income compared to 2024:

£40000

Personal details and history

Full name

Robert Cocks

Date of birth

circa 1811

Place of birth

Lochee, Dundee[1]

Gender

Male

Marital status

Married[1]

Name of spouse

Jemima Duncan (Young)[2]

Children

James; Christina; Fanny; Robert[2]

Home address

Tay Street
Dundee[1]

then

Temple Hall House
Longforgan[2]

latterly

Yew Bank
Monifieth Road
Broughty Ferry[3]

Age at death:

64 years[3]

Place of death:

Broughty Ferry[3]

Date of death:

19-08-1875[3]

Buried:

Unknown

Affiliations, clubs, offices and related subscribers

Religious affiliation

Unknown

Political affiliation

Unknown

Clubs / societies

Unknown

Public offices

Unknown

Related subscribers

Messrs Cox Brothers, Manufacturers, Lochee

Career and worklife

Occupation

Physician and general practitioner (MD Glasgow)[1]

Employment

Self-employed

Place of work

Dundee

Work address

25 Tay Street
Dundee[1]

Career to date:

Established Eye Institution in 1836 Appointed consulting physician to the Royal Lunatic Asylum in the 1840s[4]

More information

Robert Cocks had planned a life at sea but a fall from the rigging of a ship on which he was serving left him seriously injured and he was forced to consider a different career. On completion of his apprenticeship with Dr Stephen, he attended Glasgow University and gained the degree of M.D. He quickly became known in Dundee for his attentive, cheerful manner and high professional standards and soon had an extensive practice. His skill in eye surgery at the Eye Institution he founded in 1836 helped many of the city’s poor. In 1872 Robert was presented by his patients with a magnificent testimonial of silver plate valued at around £600.[4] He died of prostatitis.[3] He was survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters and left an estate of £33,949.[5]

It appears likely that Robert was a distant relative of the Cox Brothers of Camperdown Works. They all had roots in Lochee with fathers involved in the linen trade and may have been descendants of James Cock.[6]

There is a Cocks family memorial in the Eastern Necropolis where his wife one of his sons are buried.

Sources

  1. 1861 Census 282/2 7/30: ScotlandsPeople website.
  2. 1871 Census 377: ScotlandsPeople website.
  3. 1875 Statutory Registers Deaths 310/95.
  4. Lamb Collection Newspaper Cuttings Biographical Notices Box 398 p 68.
  5. 1875 Statutory Registers Wills and Testaments Ref SC45/31/26 Dundee Sheriff Court.
  6. Cox Brothers family tree: University of Dundee Archives.

The information above about Robert Cocks has been collated from a range of digital and hard copy sources. To the best of our knowledge it is correct but if you are relying on any information from our website for the purpose of your own research we would advise you to follow up the sources to your own satisfaction. If you are aware of an inaccuracy in our text please do not hesitate to notify us through our Contact page.