Sir Edward Ernest Cooper
(Lord Mayor 1919 - 1920)
Photo Credit: Christ's Hospital Foundation
Sir Edward Ernest Cooper (1848 - 1922), was first educated in 1848 at a 'Dame School' in Bayswater run by Mrs Horatia Ward, the daughter of Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton. Cooper eventually became head of the underwriting firm, James Hartley Cooper & Co. Ltd.
Cooper became a member of the Musicians' Company in 1882 - aged 34, it was his Mother Livery. He was subsequently elected to the Court in 1901 and served as Master Musician for the first time in 1905/6.
He was elected Alderman for the Ward of Cornhill in 1909 and in 1912/13 became Sheriff of the City of London. Cooper was knighted by King George in 1913 following his Shrieval year and became Lord Mayor in 1919 the same year as being Master of the Musicians’ Company for the second time. During this second term of Office, Immediate Pastmaster Hugh Wyatt was established as Cooper's Deputy Master.
A photograph taken in 1905. L-R are Edward Ernest Cooper (Senior Warden), CTD Crews (The Master), TC Fenwick (Clerk), Sir Homeward Crawford (Junior Warden).
Sir Edward Cooper also served terms as Master of the Barber-Surgeons’ and the Parish Clerks’ Companies.
Cooper sang for over 20 years in St Paul’s Cathedral choir. He was Chairman of the Royal Academy of Music and Vice-President of the Royal College of Organists. He was a Parish Clerk at St Michael’s, Cornhill and was the donor of a memorial tablet on the birthplace of the poet, Gray, on Cornhill in the City. During the First World War, he joined the National Guard in the City.
Click Here to see a video, from British Pathé, showing Sir Edward Cooper as the new Lord Mayor in the Lord Mayor’s Show of 1919.
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