John Gilbert Cooper

John Gilbert Cooper or John Gilbert (24 August 1722 – 21 April 1769) was a British poet and writer.

Biography John Gilbert was born in Lockington, Leicestershire. His father was left a legacy which included Thurgarton Priory which he was allowed if he changed his name to Cooper by a private act of Parliament, (9 Geo. 2. c. 27 ). John Gilbert Cooper was educated locally and then at Westminster School. He completed his education at Trinity College, Cambridge. Cooper's claim to notability comes from his prose, poetry and a public row he had with William Warburton. The row arose from a book he published on Socrates where his work ignored the established view of many including Warburton. Warburton responded to Cooper's 1749, Life of Socrates with an Essay on Criticism in 1751. Cooper unwisely accused Warburton of personal attack in Cursory Remarks on Mr Warburton's New Edition of Mr Pope's Works - it was unwise as he also made personal attacks on Warburton. Samuel Johnson later described Cooper as the Punchinello of literature.

Cooper's 1754 Letters Concerning Taste was said to be the first book on the subject of taste. Cooper had recounted a story where a greedy nobleman despoils his ancestor's grave in search of riches to find himself cursed by his ancestor.