Robert Brooke (Virginia)

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This article is about the governor of Virginia. For the governor of St. Helena, see Robert Brooke.

Robert Brooke (died 27 February 1800) was a Virginia politician who served as governor of Virginia from 1794 to 1796 and as attorney general of Virginia from 1796 to 1800.

Brooke was born about 1760, probably in Spotsylvania County. Having traveled to Scotland about 1774 to attend the University of Edinburgh, he was temporarily stranded in Great Britain when the American Revolution broke out. Brooke returned to Virginia late in 1780.

Brooke was a Freemason and in November 1795 succeeded John Marshall as grand master of the Grand Lodge of Virginia. Heavily in debt, he died in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on February 27, 1800.

Brooke County, West Virginia, is named in his honor.

[edit] References

  • Obituaries in Fredericksburg Virginia Herald, 28 Feb. 1800, and Richmond Virginia Argus, 7 Mar. 1800.
  • Biography in John T. Kneebone et al., eds., Dictionary of Virginia Biography (Richmond: Library of Virginia, 1998- ), 2:267-269. ISBN 0-88490-199-8.


Preceded by
Henry Lee III
Governor of Virginia
1794–1796
Succeeded by
James Wood
Preceded by
John Marshall (acting)
Attorney General of Virginia
1796 – 1800
Succeeded by
Philip Norborne Nicholas
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