Richard Cooper, the elder

Richard Cooper the elder (1701–1764) was an English engraver, who for most of his career worked in Edinburgh.

On the death of his father he was able to visit Italy, where he spent several years studying the masters, becoming a competent artist, and forming a collection of drawings and prints.

[1] He is also considered by some to be the founder of The Canongate Concert Hall, the first building purpose-built for theatre in Scotland.

In 1747 he applied to the Edinburgh Dean of Guild Court to build 'a house in a garden opposite to St. John's Cross, Canongate, wholly belonging to himself in property', however it was used as a concert hall.

[2] Built during the 1737 Theatres Licensing Act, it attempted to circumvent the legislation by displaying concerts of music instead of formal plays but was eventually closed due to a lack of Royal Permit before reopening as the Theatre Royal in 1767.