Robert Brooke Sr. facts for kids
Robert Brooke Sr. (1602–1655) was an important leader in early Maryland. He served as the Colonial Governor of Maryland for a few months in 1652.
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Robert Brooke's Early Life
Robert Brooke was born in London, England, on June 23, 1602. He was the third son of Thomas Brooke and Susan Forster. His father was a lawyer and a member of Parliament.
When Robert was ten years old, both his parents passed away. He and his ten brothers and sisters were then cared for by their uncle, Richard Venables. Their uncle made sure they were educated and managed their money. Robert went to Wadham College at Oxford University in 1618. He earned his first degree in 1620 and later a Master of Arts degree in 1624.
Robert Brooke's Religious Path
Robert Brooke became a clergyman. He was made a vicar (a type of priest) in Wales in 1637. This happened with the support of King Charles I. At that time, the King wanted to promote clergymen who believed in the "Divine Right of Kings." This idea meant that a king's power came directly from God.
Robert's father-in-law, Roger Mainwaring, was also a strong supporter of the King. He became a Bishop in Wales in 1636.
As the 1640s went on, there was a lot of tension between King Charles I and the Parliament. Robert Brooke moved to Maryland in 1649. This move happened around the time King Charles I was executed. After arriving in Maryland, Robert Brooke stopped serving in the Anglican Church. He and his family later became Catholic before he died in 1655.
Robert Brooke's Family Life
Robert Brooke was married twice and had many children.
Robert Brooke's First Marriage
On February 25, 1627, Robert married Mary Baker (1602–1634). She was from Sussex, England. Robert and Mary had four children together:
- Baker, who married Anne Calvert, the daughter of Governor Leonard Calvert.
- Mary
- Thomas, who married Eleanor Hatton.
- Barbara
Robert Brooke's Second Marriage
After Mary Baker passed away, Robert married Mary Mainwaring on May 11, 1635. She was the daughter of Roger Mainwaring, who was a Bishop. Robert and Mary Mainwaring had thirteen children:
- Charles
- Roger
- Robert
- John
- Mary
- William
- Ann, who married Christopher Beanes.
- Francis
- Basil (who died as a baby)
- Henry
- Elizabeth, who married Captain Richard Smith Jr.
Moving to Maryland
In 1649, Robert Brooke was given a special job by Lord Baltimore, the owner of Maryland. He was asked to be the Commander of a new county in Maryland. He would receive a large piece of land for every ten people he brought with him.
Robert Brooke left England in June 1650 on his own ships. He paid for everything himself. He traveled with his wife, ten children, 28 servants, and even a group of hunting dogs!
On July 22, 1650, Robert and his two sons, Baker and Thomas Sr., promised their loyalty to Lord Baltimore. His sons also received their own land grants in Maryland. On October 30, 1650, Robert Brooke became the Commander of the newly formed Charles County. This county is now known as Calvert County.
Robert Brooke's Political Role
In 1652, during the time of the Cromwellian Government in England, Robert Brooke became the Governor of Maryland. He served from March 29 to July 3, 1652.
However, his cooperation with a group called the Puritan faction upset Lord Baltimore. Because of this, Robert lost his official positions given by Lord Baltimore. Later, he made up with Lord Baltimore and joined the Catholic Party. As mentioned, he and his family became Catholic before his death.
Robert Brooke's Land and Estates
Like many wealthy people who came to Maryland with Lord Baltimore's support, Robert Brooke gained a lot of land. He built three large estates, each named after himself:
- "De La Brooke Manor" was a 2,000-acre estate in St. Mary's County, Maryland. It is still a private home and a hunt club today.
- "Brooke Place Manor" was a 2,100-acre estate in Calvert County, Maryland, across the Patuxent River. He built a home there that looked very similar to "De La Brooke."
- "Brooke Court" was a 2,000-acre estate in what is now Prince George's County, Maryland.
By the time he died on July 20, 1655, Robert Brooke had gathered about 8,000 acres of land.
Robert Brooke's Legacy
Robert Brooke is known for bringing the sport of foxhunting to British America. He is considered America's first Master of Foxhounds (MFH). The group of hounds he brought with him on his ship are one of the three main types of dogs that led to the American Foxhound. The other two came from the Marquis de Lafayette and George Washington.
Robert Brooke's pack of hounds stayed in his family for a very long time. They were still being kept and bred by his family as late as the 1940s. This is amazing because it means the family bred these dogs for 290 years! American Foxhounds from this family line were also known as "Brooke Hounds."
