William Brooke, 12th Baron Cobham

William Brooke, 12th Baron Cobham KB (baptised 1 December 1601 – 20 September 1643)^[1] was an English peer, soldier and politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Rochester, Kent.

Biography

He was the only son of George Brooke and Elizabeth Burgh, and in 1619 succeeded his uncle Henry Brooke, 11th Baron Cobham as Baron Cobham.^[2] The barony, however, remained under attainder, due to his father and uncle's treason by having both participated in the Main Plot against King James I of England.

On 1 February 1626, he was invested as a Knight of the Bath. He served as the Member of Parliament for Rochester, Kent from 1628 to 1629.

Brooke married twice; his first wife was Pembroke Lennard (daughter of Henry, Lord Dacre^[3]), and his second wife, Penelope Hill. He had surviving issue by both wives.^[4] His two principal residences were Cooling in Kent and Sterborough in Surrey. He died from wounds received at the First Battle of Newbury in the English Civil War.^[5] As he had no sons, the barony fell into abeyance between his four daughters and co-heirs.

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