Born in Virginia, he read law and opened a legal practice in Williamsburg before enlisting in the Confederate States Army.

Nevertheless, he read law and opened a legal practice in Williamsburg shortly before the outbreak of the American Civil War.

Taking an interest in politics, Coke unsuccessfully ran to be a Conservative delegate at the 1868 state constitutional convention.

In 1884, Coke sought the Democratic gubernatorial nomination at the party's state convention but was narrowly defeated by Alfred Moore Scales.

[1] On April 4, 1891, Governor Fowle appointed Coke to serve as North Carolina Secretary of State to fill a vacancy created by the death of incumbent William L. Saunders.

The paper's publisher, Josephus Daniels, described Coke as "a gallant Confederate soldier, and an eloquent orator and advocate, with personal charm.

"[1] Governor Elias Carr appointed Charles M. Cooke to replace Coke at the secretariat of state.