Dr. M. C. Cooke

Abstract

BOTANISTS will learn with regret of the death of the veteran mycologist, Dr. M. C. Cooke, at Southsea on November 12. Mordecai Cubitt Cooke was born at Horning, Norfolk, on July 12, 1825. His early education was scanty, but he received help from his uncle, who instructed him in botany as well as in mathematics and languages. Some years later he became a lawyers clerk, and afterwards a teacher under the old National School system, the economic value of food-plants being one of his teaching subjects. This led to his preparation of a catalogue for the Indian Department of the Exhibition of 1862, and eventually to work at the India Museum. Here he spent much time studying the lower cryptogams, especially fungi, on which he soon became a leading authority.