Humphrey Brooke (1617–1693) was an English

physician A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...

and political radical.

Life

Brooke was born in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

in 1617. He was educated in Merchant Taylors' School, and entered

St John's College, Oxford St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. Founded as a men's college in 1555, it has been coeducational since 1979.Communication from Michael Riordan, college archivist Its founder, Sir Thomas White, intended to pro ...

, of which he became a fellow. He proceeded M.B. 1646, M.D. 1659, was elected fellow of the

London College of Physicians The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is a British professional membership body dedicated to improving the practice of medicine, chiefly through the accreditation of physicians by examination. Founded by royal charter from King Henry VIII in 1 ...

1674, and was subsequently several times censor. In the mid-1640s Brooke was living in the home of William Walwyn, whose daughter he married, in Moorfields, London. He met Clement Writer, and was involved in the margins of the

Leveller The Levellers were a political movement active during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms who were committed to popular sovereignty, extended suffrage, equality before the law and religious tolerance. The hallmark of Leveller thought was its popul ...

movement. He was questioned on his activities in 1649 by

Thomas Scot Thomas Scot (or Scott; died 17 October 1660) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1645 and 1660. He was executed as one of the regicides of King Charles I. Early life Scot was educated at Westmi ...

. Brooke died very rich at his house in

Leadenhall Street __NOTOC__ Leadenhall Street () is a street in the City of London. It is about and links Cornhill, London, Cornhill in the west to Aldgate in the east. It was formerly the start of the A11 road (England), A11 road from London to Norwich, but th ...

, 9 December 1693.

Works

Brooke was the author of ''A Conservatory of Health, comprised in a Plain and Practical Discourse upon the Six Particulars necessary for Man's Life'', London, 1650, and also a book of paternal advice, addressed to his children, under the title of ''The Durable Legacy'', London, 1681, of which only fifty copies were printed. It contains 250 pages of practical, moral, and religious directions, couched in a simple Christian style.

References

* ;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Brooke, Humphrey 1617 births 1693 deaths 17th-century English medical doctors Writers from London Alumni of St John's College, Oxford Fellows of St John's College, Oxford English medical writers 17th-century English writers 17th-century English male writers People educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood