Background

Brooke originated from a family with roots in the counties Fermanagh as well as Donegal

Donegal

Donegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....

 and was the son of Basil Brooke. His mother was Jane, daughter of Henry Wrey. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin

Trinity College, Dublin

Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...

 until 1761 and when his father died seven years later, he interited the latter's estates. Brooke was unmarried and following his death was succeeded by his nephew Thomas Grove, who thereupon assumed his uncle's surname.

Career

Brooke entered the Irish House of Commons

Irish House of Commons

The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...

 in 1776, having been elected for Donegal Borough

Donegal Borough (Parliament of Ireland constituency)

Donegal Borough was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800. It is now represented in the Dáil.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Donegal Borough was not represented.-1689–1801:...

. In 1783, he stood successfully for both Donegal County as well as Augher

Augher (Parliament of Ireland constituency)

Augher was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until the Acts of Union 1800 came into force on January 1, 1801.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Augher was not represented.-1689–1801:...

, chosing to sit for the former constituency. He represented it until the Act of Union 1801 and then gained a seat in the British House of Commons

British House of Commons

The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...

 for the new established constituency Donegal

Donegal (UK Parliament constituency)

Donegal was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland, returning two Members of Parliament .-Boundaries:This constituency comprised the whole of County Donegal...

 until 1802. By support of his friend Henry Conyngham, 1st Marquess Conyngham

Henry Conyngham, 1st Marquess Conyngham

Henry Conyngham, 1st Marquess Conyngham KP, GCH, PC, FSA , known as The Lord Conyngham between 1787 and 1789, as The Viscount Conyngham between 1789 and 1797 and as The Earl Conyngham between 1797 and 1815, was an Anglo-Irish courtier and politician of the Regency period...

, Brooke was returned for Donegal again in 1806, however died only a year later. He was nominated High Sheriff of Donegal

High Sheriff of Donegal

The High Sheriff of Donegal was the British Crown’s judicial representative in County Donegal, Ireland from the 16th century until 1922, when the office was abolished in the new Free State and replaced by the office of Donegal County Sheriff. The sheriff had judicial, electoral, ceremonial and...

in 1786 and became colonel of the county's militia in 1798.

External links