Born at Melbourne in 1879, eldest child of John Cooke, pasturalist, who had formerly lived in New Zealand, and Edith Marshall, his wife. He was educated at Melbourne University, where he qualified in 1901, and served as house physician at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He took the BS in 1902 and then came to the London Hospital, where he served as house surgeon and resident anaesthetist. He took the English Conjoint qualification at the end of 1903, and the Fellowship in 1905. Cooke practised for many years with success at Stanmore, Middlesex. During the 1914-18 war he served in the RAMC, was promoted major in 1918, and was mentioned in despatches. He took a prominent part in local social life and politics, and in 1929 stood as a Conservative candidate for Parliament at Peckham. At the general election of 1931 he was returned as MP for South Hammersmith, which he represented until 1945. His principal interest was the promotion of trade between the countries of the Empire. He was knighted in 1945. Cooke married in 1907 Elsie Muriel, daughter of General James Burston of Melbourne, who survived him with a son and three daughters, one of whom married the eldest son and heir of Sir W E C Quilter, second baronet. Sir Douglas Cooke died on 13 July 1949 at 48 Kingston House, Princes Gate, SW7, a block of modern apartments looking over Kensington Gardens. He had previously lived at 35A Great Cumberland Place. His favourite recreations were tennis, golf, and shooting.