Robert Brooke (died 1669)


Sir Robert Brooke was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1669.
Brooke was the second surviving son of Sir Robert Brooke of Cockfield Hall and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Colepeper of Wigsell, Sussex. He was educated privately under Daniel Milles. In 1659 he became JP. for Suffolk and in 1659 became a commissioner for the militia. In April 1660, he was elected Member of Parliament for Aldeburgh in the Convention Parliament. He also became lieutenant colonel of the Suffolk Militia in April 1660. He was knighted on 9 June 1660 for his services to the Restoration. In July 1660 he became commissioner for oyer and terminer for Middlesex, and in August 1660 became commissioner for assessment for Suffolk.
Brooke was re-elected MP for Aldeburgh in 1661 for the Cavalier Parliament where he was very active. In 1661 he became commissioner for assessment for Aldeburgh and in 1662 became a JP for Essex and one of the Six Clerks in Chancery. He became commissioner for assessment for Essex in 1663. In 1667, he was appointed chairman of the inquiry into the failures of the Second Anglo-Dutch War, and presented four reports. Samuel Pepys wrote of him extensively in his diary considering him too young for the chair, "and yet he seems to speak very well".
Brooke went to France in 1669 and was drowned while bathing in the River Rhône at Avignon in June.
Brooke married on 26 April 1659 Ann Mildmay, daughter of Sir Henry Mildmay of Wanstead, who was master of the jewels from 1620 to 1649. She died on 7 January 1666, leaving him a daughter. His estate at Wanstead was sold later to Sir Josiah Child, 1st Baronet.