Born in Sheffield on 26 June 1885, son of Frank Cobb and Martha Griffiths, his wife. He was educated at Firth Park Grammar School, Sheffield and at Sheffield University, where he graduated with honours and won a gold medal in gynaecology. He was house surgeon and resident surgical officer at the Royal Infirmary, Sheffield. In 1915 he joined the 3rd Northern General Hospital, Territorial Force, with the rank of Captain and saw active service with the 3rd West Riding Field Ambulance in France. On demobilisation in 1918 he was appointed surgeon to the Sheffield Children's Hospital. He decided to specialise in ear, nose and throat surgery and in 1928 was appointed surgeon in charge of this department at the Royal Infirmary and also at the Children's Hospital. He was an examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons of England and at Leeds University. In 1947 he was elected President of the Sheffield Medico-Chirurgical Society. He retired from practice in 1960. In October 1917 he married Eleanor Mann Davidson, daughter of George Scott Davidson, a Sheffield doctor. Mrs Cobb died in 1963. He died in Leeds on the 18 October 1968, survived by two daughters and a son, John, a QC and Recorder of Bradford. Cobb was well read, particularly in Shakespeare and Dickens, and his great hobby was golf.