 Few records exist of Thomas Coke 's early years , although it is known that he was educated in Longford , Derbyshire , before going to a school in Wandsworth run by French refugees . In 1765 he was sent to Eton College , where he was joined by William Windham , a close friend in his later life . Coke was apparently happy at Eton , and was excellent at field sports ; on one occasion 70 snipes he had killed were found in his room , and on another he narrowly avoiding being punished for shooting a pheasant in Windsor Park . He was not particularly interested in his academic studies , but by the time he left Eton in 1771 Coke had developed a close circle of friends and connections from the landowning class , and practical skills to deal with his future estates . After leaving school he undertook a Grand Tour of Europe , financed by his father and his great @-@ aunt ( who offered him £ 500 not to go to a university , regarding them as dens of vice ) . Coke visited France and Italy , where he witnessed the marriage of the Young Pretender to Princess Louise of Stolberg @-@ <unk> ; Louise apparently fell in love with Coke , preferring the similarly @-@ aged Englishman to her 52 @-@ year @-@ old alcoholic husband . 
