 Prints were often hand coloured for a vivid picture of events.John Cooke Bourne was born in London, were his father worked as hat-maker in Covent Garden.He was related to the engraver George Cooke, who was his godfather, and became befriended with his son Edward William Cooke, whose uncle, William Bernard Cooke (1778–1855), was also a line engraver of note.