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

Tory A Tory () is an individual who supports a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalist conservatism which upholds the established social order as it has evolved through the history of Great Britain. The To ...

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), 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 to ...

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

Sir Richard Broke Sir Richard Broke or Brooke (died 1529), was an English judge, who served as Chief Baron of the Exchequer. Broke was fourth son of Thomas Broke of Leighton, Cheshire, Leighton in Cheshire, and his wife, daughter, and heiress of John Parker of Co ...

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 pres ...

during the reign of

Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...

. In 1637 he attended

St Catharine's College, Cambridge St Catharine's College is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. Founded in 1473 as Katharine Hall, it adopted its current name in 1860. The college is nicknamed "Catz". The colle ...

, before travelling abroad between 1639 and 1642. He is not recorded as playing any part in the

English Civil War The English Civil War or Great Rebellion was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Cavaliers, Royalists and Roundhead, Parliamentarians in the Kingdom of England from 1642 to 1651. Part of the wider 1639 to 1653 Wars of th ...

, but following the

Stuart Restoration The Stuart Restoration was the reinstatement in May 1660 of the Stuart monarchy in Kingdom of England, England, Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland, and Kingdom of Ireland, Ireland. It replaced the Commonwealth of England, established in January 164 ...

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 status in the United Kingdom, borough in Suffolk, England. It is the county town, and largest in Suffolk, followed by Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds, and the third-largest population centre in East Anglia, ...

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 14th ...

, of Nacton in the

Baronetage of England Baronets are hereditary titles awarded by the Crown. The current baronetage of the United Kingdom has replaced the earlier, existing baronetages of England, Nova Scotia, Ireland and Great Britain. To be recognised as a baronet, it is necessary ...

. 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 1661 ( 13 Cha. 2 St. 2. c. 1) was an act of the Parliament of England. 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 for

Suffolk Suffolk ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Norfolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Essex to the south, and Cambridgeshire to the west. Ipswich is the largest settlement and the county ...

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)