Sir Robert Broke, 1st Baronet (23 November 1622 – 25 February 1694) was an English

Tory A Tory () is a person who holds a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalism and conservatism, which upholds the supremacy of social order as it has evolved in the English culture throughout history. The ...

politician.

Biography

Broke was the eldest son of Sir Richard Broke of

Nacton Nacton is a village and civil parish in the East Suffolk district of Suffolk, England. The parish is bounded by the neighbouring parishes of Levington to the east and Bucklesham in the north. It is located between the towns of Ipswich and Feli ...

and Mary, daughter of Sir John Pakington. Broke was a descendant of Sir Richard Broke,

Chief Baron of the Exchequer The Chief Baron of the Exchequer was the first "baron" (meaning judge) of the English Exchequer of Pleas. "In the absence of both the Treasurer of the Exchequer or First Lord of the Treasury, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it was he who pre ...

during the reign of Henry VIII. In 1637 he attended St Catharine's College, Cambridge, before travelling abroad between 1639 and 1642. He is not recorded as playing any part in the

English Civil War The English Civil War (1642–1651) was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Parliamentarians (" Roundheads") and Royalists led by Charles I ("Cavaliers"), mainly over the manner of England's governance and issues of re ...

, but following the

Stuart Restoration The Restoration of the Stuart monarchy in the kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland took place in 1660 when King Charles II returned from exile in continental Europe. The preceding period of the Protectorate and the civil wars came to ...

in 1660, Broke was appointed one of Suffolk's militia commissioners and a justice of the peace for the county. He stood for election in

Ipswich Ipswich () is a port town and borough in Suffolk, England, of which it is the county town. The town is located in East Anglia about away from the mouth of the River Orwell and the North Sea. Ipswich is both on the Great Eastern Main Line ...

in 1660, but was unsuccessful. On 21 May 1661, he was created a

baronet A baronet ( or ; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (, , or ; abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14t ...

, of Nacton in the Baronetage of England. He was active in local affairs in Suffolk, and in 1681 he presented a loyal address to Charles II from the people of Ipswich. The King, having had long experience of his "fidelity and zeal in his service", commissioned Broke to report on infractions of the charters and of the

Corporation Act 1661 The Corporation Act of 1661 was an Act of the Parliament of England (13 Cha. II. St. 2 c. 1). It belonged to the general category of test acts, designed for the express purpose of restricting public offices in England to members of the Church of ...

in Ipswich. In February 1685, Broke presented a loyal address to James II following his accession. He was elected as a

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...

for Suffolk in 1685 as a Tory. A moderately active Member, he was appointed to the committee of elections and privileges and that to consider the bill to prevent the export of wool. In April 1688, James II's agents in Suffolk reported that Broke was loyal to the king, but he was removed from municipal office in July and did not stand at the following general election; he took no further part in public life.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Broke, Robert, 1st Baronet 1622 births 1694 deaths Alumni of St Catharine's College, Cambridge Baronets in the Baronetage of England English justices of the peace English MPs 1685–1687 Tory MPs (pre-1834)