Robert Brooke, Sr.

Robert Brooke Sr. (1602–1655) was a Colonial Governor of Maryland for several months in 1652. Early life Robert Brooke was born in London on June 23, 1602, third son of Thomas Brooke (1561–1612) of Whitchurch and Susan Foster, daughter of Sir Thomas Forster (1548–1612) of "Etherstone" and sister of Sir Robert Foster, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench. Thomas Brooke was a barrister at Inner Temple and MP for Whitchurch from 1604 to 1611. The Brooke family arms were recorded in the Visitation of Hampshire, 1634. Robert and his ten siblings were orphaned in 1612 and were given into the care of their uncle Richard Venables, who managed the Brooke children's finances and saw to their education. Robert matriculated at Wadham College, Oxford on April 28, 1618. He received the degree of B.A. July 6, 1620; consequently, in 1624, without further study or examination, he also received a Master of Arts degree. Religious career He was admitted to Orders though the earliest evidence of his posting to a parish occurs after the death of his first wife, Mary Baker, and subsequent marriage to Mary Mainwaring in 1635. He was made vicar of Laugharne with Llansadwrnen in the diocese of St. David's on November 21, 1637 under the direct patronage of Charles I, who in concert with William Laud sought to promote clergymen supporting the philosophy of Divine Right.