Roger Coke

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Roger Coke, c.1628-1703?

Roger Coke was born after 1626, the grandson of the great English common law jurist, Sir Edward Coke. Roger Coke was educated at Queen's College, Cambridge, but did not take a degree.

Although demonstrating an early aptitude for mathematics, Coke's earliest writings were in political philosophy, notably a treatise against Hobbes (1660).

Coke turned to trade in the early 1670s. Basing himself on Fortrey's calculations, Roger Coke believed that Restoration England had declined in population and trade relative to foreign powers over the past few decades. Although a Mercantilist in his theoretical framework, Roger Coke nonetheless opposed most of the typical government regulations, restrictions of trade and monopolies. Coke traced the rise of Dutch prosperity, linking it to the advantages of liberalizing trade and recommended similar course of action for Britain.

Outside of economics, Coke is best remembered for his Detection (1694), a gossipy account of the history of the English royal court. Little else is known about his life. According to the preface of its 1719 ed (p.xiii), Roger Coke was not very successful in business, suffering several reverses, and ended up dependant on a £100 annuity granted by his nephew. He was apparently jailed for a while for debt at Fleet Prison and died a bachelor, at the age of 75.

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Major Works of Roger Coke

Justice vindicated from the false fucus put upon it by Thomas White, Gent., Mr. Thomas Hobbs and Hugo Grotius, as also elements of power and subjection, wherein is demonstrated the cause of all humane, Christian, and legal society, and as a previous introduction to these, is shewed, the method by which men must necessarily attain arts & sciences, 1660
A Discourse of Trade, in two parts, the first treats of the reason of the decay of the strength, wealth, and trade of England, the latter, of the growth and increase of the Dutch trade above the English, 1670. [McM]
A Treatise wherein is demonstrated that the Church and State of England are in equal Danger with the Trade of It, 1671
Reasons of the Increase in Dutch Trade, 1671.
England's Improvement by Foreign Trade, 1675
England's Improvements, in two parts; in the former is discoursed, how the Kingdom of England may be improved in strength, employment, wealth, trade, by encreasing the value of lands, the revenues of the Crown and Church, peace and amity with foreign nations, without any charge to the subject; in the latter is discoursed, how the navigation of England may be increased, and the soveraignty of the British Seas more secured to the Crown of England, 1675 [av]
How the Navigation of England may be Increased, 1675
A Detection of the Court and State of England during the four last reigns and the inter-regnum, consisting of private memoirs, &c., with observations and reflections, and an appendix, discovering the present State of the Nation, 1694, [2nd 1696 ed.][3rd 1697 ed, app] [1719 ed., v.1, v.2, v.3]
Reflection on the East Indy and Royal African Companies, with animadversions concerning the naturalisation of foreigners, 1695
A Treatise concerning the regulation of the coyn of England, and how the East-India trade may be preserved and encreased, 1696

HET

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Resources on Roger Coke

Roger Coke at McMaster
Notes on Coke by J.R. McCulloch, 1844, Literature of Political Economy, p.40
"Coke, Roger" in Leslie's Stephen's Dictionary of National Biography
"Coke, Roger" in R.H. Inglis Palgrave's Dictionary of Political Economy (1901 ed.)

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