William Willets Cocks (July 24, 1861 – May 24, 1932) was an American politician who served three terms from New York from 1905 to 1911.

William W. Cocks
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1905 (1905-03-04) – March 3, 1911 (1911-03-03)
Preceded byTownsend Scudder
Succeeded byMartin W. Littleton
Member of the New York State Assembly (Queens and Nassau Co.)
In office
1904
Member of the New York State Senate (2nd District)
In office
1901–1902
Personal details
Born(1861-07-24)July 24, 1861
Old Westbury, New York, US
DiedMay 24, 1932(1932-05-24) (aged 70)
Old Westbury, New York, US
Political partyRepublican
Alma materSwarthmore College

Life

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Born in Old Westbury, Long Island, he attended private schools and Swarthmore College. He engaged in agricultural pursuits.[citation needed]

He was elected Commissioner of Highways of the Town of North Hempstead in 1894, and was re-elected in 1896 and again in 1898. He was a member of the New York State Senate (2nd D.) in 1901 and 1902; a member of the New York State Assembly (Queens and Nassau Co.) in 1904; and a delegate to the 1908 Republican National Convention.

Cocks was elected as a Republican to the 59th, 60th and 61st United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1905, to March 3, 1911.[1]

William Cocks was a member of the board of managers of Swarthmore College and was president of the Friends Academy in Locust Valley. He was vice president of the Roslyn Savings Bank and a director of the Bank of Westbury and the Bank of Hicksville. Cocks was President of the Village of Old Westbury from its incorporation in 1924 until his death there in 1932; interment was in Friends Cemetery, Westbury.

His son, William Burling "Burley" Cocks (1915–1998) was a U.S. Hall of Fame trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses.[2] [3]

Congressman Frederick Cocks Hicks was a brother to William W. Cocks.

References

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  1. ^ "MRS. WILLIAM W. COCKS". The New York Times. November 14, 1938. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  2. ^ "Burley Cocks, 82, Steeplechase Trainer". The New York Times. February 11, 1998. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  3. ^ "W. Burling Cocks". National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
New York State Senate
Preceded by New York State Senate
2nd District

1901–1902
Succeeded by
New York State Assembly
Preceded by New York State Assembly
Queens and Nassau Counties

1904
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 1st congressional district

1905–1911
Succeeded by