Flintlock pistol supposed to have been owned by Captain J. Cooke (1763-1805). The walnut stock is fully stocked to the muzzle and is inlaid with traces of gold wire to form decoration below the tang. The pistol has a brass trigger guard, two brass ramrod pipes (the ramrod is missing), and a brass butt cap. The pistol is flintlock but most of the lock is missing. The brass barrel is octagonal and for half of its length is decorated with double line engraving and scrollwork.

Captain Cooke entered the Navy in 1776. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1779 and to Commander in 1793. He commanded HMS 'Incendiary', fireship at the Glorious First of June 1794 and was promoted to captain that year. He commanded HMS 'Bellerophon' at the Battle of Trafalgar and was supposed to have been loading one of these pistols when he was killed by French marksmen from the 'L'Aigle'. His first lieutenant William Cumby had warned that his epaulettes would make him conspicuous but Cooke replied, ‘It's too late to take them off. I see my situation. I can only die like a man.’ There is an account of his death in the book 'Bellerophon' by E. Fraser (published by Wells Gardner 1909).

The Museum also has in its collection Captain Cooke's Lloyds Patriotic Fund vase, his gold medal (MED0156), his sword (WPN1001) and his dirk (WPN1059). For a portrait of Captain Cooke see BHC2629.