Ernest Edward Cook was a grandson and joint heir to the fortune of Thomas Cook, the famous travel agent. He presided over the banking and foreign exchange business of the firm, and was probably responsible for the successful development of the Traveller's Cheque.

When the travel agency was sold in 1928, Ernest Cook devoted the remainder of his life to the preservation of English Country Houses, the Estates to which they belonged, the paintings and furniture which they contained, and also to the well-being of the communities of which the estates were the pillar.

Before his death, Mr Cook had made arrangements for the continuing care of his estates by either The Ernest Cook Trust or The National Trust, of which he was for a long time by far the greatest benefactor. He left his extensive collection of paintings to the National Art Collections Fund, for the benefit of provincial galleries.