James Rooke (British Army officer, died 1805)

James Rooke (c. 28 November 1742 4 October 1805) was an English general in the British Army and a politician.[1]

Early life

He was the only son of Major James Rooke and his wife Jane, the daughter and heiress of Tracy Catchmay of Bigsweir House, Monmouthshire. He inherited large estates in Monmouthshire from his mother.

Career

Rooke joined the army in 1759, and by 1779 was a Lieutenant-Colonel of the 14th Foot. He was promoted colonel in 1780, major-general in 1787 and served as colonel commandant of the 4th Battalion, 60th (Royal American) Regiment of Foot from 1788-1796.[2]

in 1796 he was given the colonelcy of the 38th (1st Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot for life and promoted full General in 1802.[2] [3]

He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Monmouthshire from 1785 until his death.[2]

Personal life

He died and was buried in St Briavels, Gloucestershire in 1805. He had married Elizabeth Brown of St. Briavels. Their son Lieutenant-Colonel James Rooke was killed in action in Venezuela in 1819. Their daughter Eleanor married Thomas Probyn, Governor of St Kitts.

References

  1. http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/member/rooke-james-1742-1805
  2. 1 2 3 Brooke, John (1964). L. Namier; J. Brooke, eds. "ROOKE, James (c.1740-1805), of Ifton and Bigsweir House, Mon". The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790. Boydell and Brewer. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  3. "38th (1st Staffordshire)Regiment of Foot". regiments.org. Archived from the original on 21 June 2006. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
John Morgan
Viscount Nevill
Member of Parliament for Monmouthshire
1785 1800
With: John Morgan to 1792
Robert Salusbury 1792–96
Charles Gould Morgan from 1796
Succeeded by
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Parliament of Great Britain
Member of Parliament for Monmouthshire
1801 1805
With: Charles Gould Morgan
Succeeded by
Charles Gould Morgan
Lord Arthur Somerset
Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Robert Pigot, 2nd Baronet
Colonel of the 38th (1st Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot
1796–1805
Succeeded by
George Ludlow, 3rd Earl Ludlow


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.