Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/448

 BROOKS.

BROOKS.

acaLlemy. Mass.. partly as teacher and partly as student. He learned the trade of a printer, and in early life published the Gazette at Haverhill, Mass.. and editi-d the Portland Advertiser in the Harrison canipaifjjn. when he was selected to take the electoral vote to Washington. For a nunil)er of years he was a correspondent of New York and Btiston journals at Washington, and an occasional contributor to the magazines, and with his brother James became joint editor and jiroprietor of the New York E.rj)ress in 1836, con- t inning with the paper until 1877. He was active in benevolent and educational works, being trustee and director of the in.stitution for the deaf and dumb, Cornell university, and the nurs- ery and child's hospital. He was an old-line Whig; chairman of the Whig young men's general committee for several years, and was elected to the state senate in 1853 and 1855. He became prominent by his discussion with Arch- bishop Hughes; was a member of the con- stitutional convention of 1866-'C7, and of the constitutional commission in 1871-'72. He was the " Native American " candidate for governor of New York in 1856, and was a delegate to the national conventions which nominated Fillmore, Bell, and SejTnour. In the state senate he served on the committees on commerce and cities, and was chairman of the committee on charities in the constitutional convention. He was a member of the state assembly in 1878-'T9- "81, serving on the committee on ways and means. In ^lay. 1880, he was made a member of the state board of health. He died Nov. 25, 1886. BROOKS, Horace, soldier, was born in Boston, Ma.ss., Aug. 14, 1814; son of Maria Gowen Brooks. In 1831 he was appointed a cadet at West Point, and after his graduation in 1835 he engaged in the Florida war against the Seminole Indians in 1835-'36, for which service he was brevetted 1st lieutenant In November, 1836, he was apiK)inted assistant professor of mathematics at West Point, and remained in that position for three years. From 1839 till 1846 he was on frontier, recruiting and garrison duty, and for the next two years was engaged in the war with Mexico, liaving the rank of captain of artillerj'. For bravery in the battles of Contreras and Chm-u- busco he received the brevet of major, Aug. 20, 1847, and on Sept. 8, 1847, he was brevetted lieu- tenant-colonel for gallantry at the battle of Molino del Rey. In 1848 he was on garrison duty, and in 1849 and 1850 was on leave of absence. He was afterwards on frontier duty in New Mexico and Colorado, and in 1855 was a member of the Utah expedition. From 1855 to 1857 he was in garrison in Maryland and Louisi- ana, and until 1861 was on frontier duty in Kan- sas. In April. 1861. he was promoted major, and

in October lieutenant -colonel. He served throughout the civil war on southern defences and as chief mustering and pay officer; was promoted colonel in 1863, and brevetted brigadier- general in 1865. From 1866 to 1868 he was in command of a regiment at Fort McHenry, Md., and returned there in 1869, after being at Wash- ington on military boards. From 1872 to 1877 he was in command of the garrison at San Fran- cisco, Cal., and retired from service Jan. 10, 1877. He died at Baltimore, Md., March 26, 1890.

BROOKS, James, journalist, was born at Portland, Me., Nov. 10, islO; .son of Capt. James Brooks, who lost his life on board the Yayikee, while engaged in the war of 1812-'14. He was graduated at Waterville college in 1828, and afterwards engaged in teaching school, and became a regular correspondent to the Portland Advertiser. He travelled among the Indian tribes of the southern states, giving an accovmt of his experience in well-written newspaper letters. Soon after his return to Portland, he was elected to the state house of representatives, in which he served one term. He travelled ex- tensively in Europe, finding much interesting material for his newspaper letters. Returning to America in 1836, he, in connection with his brother Erastus, established the New Y'ork Daily Express, of which he was editor-in-chief during the re- mainder of his life. During the campaign of 1840 he took the stump in favor of the Wliigs. In 1848 he was elected to the 31st Congress as a represen- tative from New Y'ork, and was re-elected to the 32d Congress. He was, in 1862, elected to the 38th Congress, and re-elected to each following Congress, including the 43d. He was appointed a government director of the Union Pacific rail- road in 1869, and while holding this office was condemned with other members of Congress for his connection with the Credit Mobilier. He was the author of "A Seven Months' Run, Up and Down and Aroimd the World" (1872). He died in Wasliington, D. C, April 30, 1873.

BROOKS, James Gordon, journalist, was born at Claverack, N. Y^, Sept. 3, 1801; son of David Brooks, revolutionary soldier. He was gradu- ated from Union college in 1819, and soon after took up his residence in Poughkeepsie. In 1823 he began his journahstic work in New Y'ork city, first as editor of the Minerva, then as founder and editor of the Literary Gazette, afterwards the Athenceum, and later on the edi- torial staff of the Morning Courier. He wrote, in connection with his wife, Mary Elizabeth Aiken, a book of poems called. "The Rivals of Este and other Poem« " (1829). For eight years Mr. Brooks edited a paper at Winchester. Va., but in 1838 he returned to New York state He died at Albany, N. Y., Feb. 20, 1841.