Cooper was born in Long Hill Township, New Jersey, where he attended the public schools.
He established an iron foundry at Jackson in 1840 and served in the Michigan State House of Representatives in 1842.
In 1858 he defeated incumbent Republican William Alanson Howard to be elected as a Democrat from Michigan's 1st congressional district to the Thirty-sixth Congress, serving from March 4, 1859, until May 15, 1860.
Following its investigation, the House Committee on Elections reported that the sitting member, Cooper, was not entitled to his seat and that the contestant Howard was.
After Cooper's removal from office, he resided at New Bedford in Wall Township, New Jersey until his death.