Family and Education

b. ?1769, 3rd but 2nd surv. s. of Peter Brooke of Mere Hall by 2nd w. Elizabeth, da. and coh. of Jonas Langford of Antigua, and Theobalds, Herts. educ. Magdalen, Oxf. 11 June 1788, aged 18. m. 6 Jan. 1790, Maria, da. of Rev. Sir Thomas Broughton, 6th Bt., of Doddington, Cheshire, 6s. 2da. suc. bro. Jonas Langford Brooke 1784.

Offices Held

Sheriff Cheshire 1797-8.

Ensign Cheshire militia 1792, capt. 1793; maj. Cheshire vol. cav. 1797, lt.-col. 1803-12.

Biography

On the death of his brother in 1784 Brooke inherited his maternal grandfather’s plantation in Antigua as well as the family estate in Cheshire.1 Through his father’s first wife he was related to the Leghs of Lyme, patrons of Newton, and on the death of Thomas Peter Legh in 1797 he stood for the borough, apparently in a bid to open it. Although the trustees of the Legh property included some of his close relatives, they preferred to support another candidate. Brooke obtained a majority at the poll, but his opponents petitioned and when the election committee made a determination on the right of election in their favour, he immediately conceded defeat. He talked of standing on a future occasion, but never did so.2 He died 21 Dec. 1815 ‘in his 47th year’.3

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: David R. Fisher

Notes

• 1. V. L. Oliver, Antigua, ii. 141-2, 144.
• 2. PRO 30/8/120, f. 209; Morning Chron. 11 Dec. 1797.
• 3. Gent. Mag. (1816), i. 88.