First modern biography of Thomas William Coke, first earl of Leicester,
who revolutionised agricultural practices and became an outspoken critic
of Britain's war against America over independence.
Thomas William Coke ("Coke of Norfolk") (1754-1842) is best known as one
of the main promoters of the improved farming of the "Agricultural
Revolution". He was also a county MP for over forty years between 1776
and 1832; and the owner of one of the finest palladian mansions in
Britain, and by far, the largest estate in Norfolk at Holkham Hall. A
friend of Charles James Fox, he moved in the highest Whig social circles
and lavishly entertained distinguishedfriends from both political and
academic fields who came to Holkham for its splendid library, works of
art and antiquities as well as the game coverts. A charismatic figure,
he was an outspoken critic of Britain's war against theAmericans in
their fight for independence which made him friends who visited and
corresponded across the Atlantic.
Despite his importance, both locally and nationally, there has been no
full scale biography of him for a hundred years - a gap which this book
sets out to address. It sets his agricultural achievements in a wider
context, and places Coke himself in his milieu, as one of a small circle
of landed grandees who were of major influence duringa period of
political turbulence and agricultural change. The author also examines
Coke's reputation as a "patriot".
Dr SUSANNA WADE MARTINS is Honorary Research Fellow, School of History,
University of East Anglia.
