Family and Education

b. ?1755, 2nd s. of Sir Richard Brooke, 4th Bt., of Norton Priory by Frances, da. of Thomas Patten of Bank Hall, Lancs. educ. Brasenose, Oxf. 15 Nov. 1771, aged 16. m. 31 Dec. 1787,1 Margaret, da. of Sir Robert Cunliffe, 2nd Bt., of Saighton Grange, Cheshire, 1s. 3da.

Offices Held

Sheriff, Cheshire 1810-11.

Capt. Cheshire supp. militia 1797.

Biography

Brooke continued to sit for Newton on the interest of his kinsmen the Leghs of Lyme and to support Pitt. He was listed hostile to the repeal of the Test Act in Scotland in 1791, and was marked ‘pro’ in the ministerial election survey for 1796. He wrote to Pitt, 12 Nov. 1798, about a difficulty in the administration of the land tax redemption in the Newton area.2 He is not known to have opposed Addington’s ministry, was listed under ‘Pitt’, with a query, in September 1804 and as ‘doubtful Pitt’ in July 1805. It was said that he intended to vote in favour of the censure of Melville, 8 Apr. 1805, ‘but was taken ill, and obliged to leave the House’.3 He supported the ‘Talents’, voting for the repeal of the Additional Force Act, 30 Apr. 1806, but was reckoned to be ‘adverse’ to abolition of the slave trade. Brooke, who is not known to have spoken in the House after 1790, voted for Brand’s motion condemning the ministerial pledge on Catholic relief, 9 Apr. 1807, and retired at the general election in favour of his sister’s nephew. He died 20 June 1820.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: M. H. Port

Notes

• 1. Ormerod, Cheshire, i. 685; Gent. Mag. (1787), ii. 1193 gives 29 Dec.
• 2. PRO 30/8/116, f. 196.
• 3. Sun, 13 Apr. 1805.