Brooke Baronets

Brooke Baronets

There have been six baronetcies created for persons with the surname Brooke, one in the Baronetage of England, one in the Baronetage of Ireland and four in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. As of 2008 three of the creations are extant, one is dormant and two are extinct.

The Brooke Baronetcy, of Norton Priory in the County of Chester, was created in the Baronetage of England on 12 December 1662 for Henry Brooke, a Colonel in the Parliamentary Army and Member of Parliament for Cheshire during the Commonwealth. He was succeeded by his son, Richard, the second Baronet. He was Sheriff of Cheshire in 1667. His son, Thomas, the third Baronet, was Sheriff of Cheshire from 1719 to 1720. He was succeeded by his grandson, Richard, the fourth Baronet. He served as Sheriff of Cheshire from 1752 to 1753. His son, Richard, the fifth Baronet, was Sheriff of Cheshire from 1787 to 1788. On his death the title passed to his son, Richard, the sixth Baronet. He was Sheriff of Cheshire from 1817 to 1818. His eldest son, Richard, the seventh Baronet, was High Sheriff of Cheshire between 1869 and 1870. His grandson, Richard, the ninth Baronet (who succeeded his father), was High Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1931, a Deputy Lieutenant of the county and a member of the Worcestershire County Council. As of 2012 the title is held by his great grandson, Christopher "Christoph", the twelfth Baronet, who succeeded his father in 2012.

Four other members of the family may also be mentioned. Richard Brooke (d. 1569), great-grandfather of the first Baronet, purchased the Norton Priory estate and was Sheriff of Cheshire in 1563. Thomas Brooke (d. 1622), grandfather of the first Baronet, was Sheriff of Cheshire in 1592. Thomas Brooke (1816-1880), second son of the sixth Baronet, was a General in the British Army. His son, Alured de Vere Brooke (1841-1926), was a Colonel in the Royal Engineers.

The Brooke Baronetcy, of Colebrooke in the County of Fermanagh, was created in the Baronetage of Ireland on 3 January 1764 for Arthur Brooke, who represented Fermanagh and Maryborough in the Irish House of Commons. He had no surviving male issue and the title became extinct in 1785. The baronetcy was revived in 1822 in favour of his nephew, Henry Brooke (see below). See also the Brooke Baronetcy of Summerton below.

The Brooke Baronetcy, of Colebrooke in the County of Fermanagh, was created in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 7 January 1822 for Henry Brooke. He was the nephew of the first Baronet of the 1764 creation. For more information on the 1822 creation of the baronetcy, see the Viscount Brookeborough. See also the Brooke Baronetcy of Summerton below.

The Brooke Baronetcy, of Armitage Bridge in Huddersfield the County of York, was created in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 4 August 1899 for Thomas Brooke, a Deputy Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace. He was the elder brother of the first Baronet of the 1919 creation (see below). Brooke had no surviving male issue and the title became extinct on his death in 1908.

The Brooke Baronetcy, of Summerton in Castleknock in the County of Dublin, was created in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 12 October 1903 for George Brooke, head of George F. Brooke and Son, wine merchants, and a Director and Governor of the Bank of Ireland. He was the grandson of George Frederick Brooke (1779-1865), younger brother of the first Baronet of the 1822 creation and nephew of the first Baronet of the 1764 creation (see above and the Viscount Brookeborough for earlier history of the family). As of 2008 the baronetcy is held by his great-grandson (the title having descended from father to son), Francis, the fourth Baronet, who succeeded in 1982. John Brooke (1887-1974), sixth son of the first Baronet, was a Captain in the Royal Navy.

The Brooke Baronetcy, of Almondbury in the West Riding of the County of York, was created in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 13 September 1919 for John Brooke, a Director of John Brooke & Sons, of Huddersfield, and a Justice of the Peace for the West Riding of Yorkshire and Ross-shire. He was the younger brother of the first Baronet of the 1899 creation (see above). He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Robert, the second Baronet. He was a Deputy Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty. His eldest son, John, the third Baronet, was a Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for Ross-shire. On his death in 1983 his eldest son, Alistair, became de jure the fourth Baronet; his succession was not proved until June 2012 (see link).