Clergyman; born in
England in 1735; graduated at Oxford University in 1761, and came to
America the next year, sent by
Archbishop Seeker as an assistant to
Dr. Samuel Johnson, president of King's College.
He succeeded
Johnson as president in 1763.
He was an active Tory when the Revolution broke out, and was reputed one of the authors, if not the author, of a tract entitled
A friendly address to all reasonable Americans.
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Alexander Hamilton was then a pupil in the college, and he answered the pamphlet with ability.
Cooper became very obnoxious to the
Whigs, and a public letter, signed “Three millions,” warned him and his friends that their lives were in danger.
On the night of May 10 a mob, led by Sons of Liberty, after destroying or carrying guns on the
Battery, proceeded to drive him from the college.
He succeeded in escaping to a British vessel, and sailed for
England.
He commemorated this stirring event by a poem printed in the
Gentleman's magazine in 1776.
He died in
Edinburgh, May 1, 1785.
