William George Cooke was born in St. Pancras, London, England in 1845. For five years he was articled to Charles Dobbin (1824?-?), architect and land agent to the Eastern Counties Railway (Great Eastern Railway), and on completion of his articles, remained with him for ten years. In 1873 he was appointed Surveyor to the London & South Western Railway Co., and from c.1903 was valuer of special properties for the Rate Basis Committee of the Hertfordshire County Council.
Cooke was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA). His address was given as 1 Coverdale Roade, Shepherds Bush, London in 1880 and 1911; 356, Walbrook, London in 1914 and 1923; and 13 Spencer Hill, London in 1925. He died in 1925.
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001