John Rocke

John Rocke (1817–1881) was an English banker and an amateur ornithologist. He was said to have one of the most important collections of stuffed birds in England, around 1860. Biography John Rocke was born 10 June 1817. His mother was Ann Beale (1791-1857), the youngest daughter of Thomas Beale (1747-1800). His father was the Reverend John Rocke (1783-1849), rector of Clungunford. His grandfather was again a Rev. John Rocke (1755-1824; vicar of Wellington and mayor of Shrewsbury). His father was an enthusiastic amateur geologist, who sent in 1813 fossils from Shropshire to Arthur Aikin and the Geological Society of London via Thomas Dugard. Later he assisted Roderick Murchison with his research on the Silurian. John Rocke was educated at Harrow School and next at Trinity College, Cambridge. He became a banker in the family business Rocke, Eyton & Co. Rocke, Eyton & Co. had been formed in 1792, and resided in Shrewsbury under the name "Shrewsbury Old Bank". In 1884 it amalgated with Burton, Lloyd, Salt & How, to form Eyton, Burton & Co. The bank was founded by the grandfather of John, the rev. John Rocke (1755-1824) and his brother in law Thomas Eyton. The bank was then named the Old Shrewsbury Bank.