Brooke, Francis J
soldier, lawyer, jurist, was born Aug. 27, 1763, in Smithfield, Va. In 1780 he joined Harrison's regiment of artillery as lieutenant, and afterward joined Greene's army, and served until the end of the war. He was elected to the state house of delegates in 1794, removed to Fredericksburg in 1796, and in 1800 was chosen to the state senate, becoming its speaker. In 1804 he was elected a judge of the general court, and in 1811 a judge of the court of appeals, of which he was president for eight years.
In 1831 he was re-elected judge of the same court, and retained the office until his death. He died March 3, 1851.