Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/449

 BROOKS.

BROOKS.

BROOKS, James Wilton, lawyer, was born in New York city, April 19, 1854; son of James Brooks, editor of the New York Express. He was graduated at Yale in 1875, and after study- ing at the Columbia law school was admitted to the New York bar in 1881. He was a member of the state assembly during the session of 1882-'83. The degree of LL. D. was conferred upon htm by St. John's coUege, Annapolis, in 1890. He was a frequent contributor to the New York newspaper press, and in 1895 became the editor of the Uni- versity Magazine. He published in 1896 a volume entitled, " The Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of New York city."

BROOKS, John, governor of Massachusetts, was born at Medford, Mass., May 31, 1752. He worked on his father's farm, attending the village school at irregular intervals, until his fourteenth year, when he was taken into the home of Dr. Simon Tufts, the family physician, to be educated for the medical profession. He be- gan the practice of medicine at Read- ing, Mass., in 1773. Upon hearing of the march of the British to Lexington and Concord he ordered out a militia com- pany, which he had been drilling for some time and proceeded to the scene of battle where he so dis- tinguished himself by his bravery and effi- ciency that he re- ceived a major's commission in the provincial army. He was ac- tive during the night preceding the battle of Bunker Hill, but was not present at the battle, having been sent with a despatch from Colonel Prescott to General Ward. In 1777 he was made lieutenant-colonel of the 8th Massachu- setts regiment, and, as commander of the regi- ment, took an active and gallant part in all the battles and manoeuvres of the northern army, which terminated in Burgoyne's surren- der. He was with Washington at Valley Forge. Early in 1778 he was promoted to a colonelcy, and in June of that year dLstinguished him- self at the battle of Monmouth. As a tactician he was second only to Baron Steuben, and after that officer became inspector -general, Colonel Brooks was associated with him in establishing in the army a uniform system of drill and exercise. After the disbanding of the army, he returned to the practice of his profession, estab-

lishing himself at Medford, where he served for many years as major-general of the niiUtia. He was a member of the state convention which met in 1788 to ratify the Federal constitution, and in 1795, by appointment of General Washington, became marshal of his district and inspector of revenues. From 1812 to 1815 he served as adju- tant-general of the state, and in 1816 was elected governor. He was elected seven consecutive years, and then declining to be again a candidate he retired to his Medford home and resumed his practice. Harvard college gave him the honorary degree of A. M., and in 1816 those of M.D. and LL.D. He was president of the Massachusetts medical society from 1817 until his death, and in his will he bequeathed his library to the society. A discourse deUvered before the society of the Cincinnati (1787), one before the Humane society (1795), a eulogy on Washington (1800), and a dis- course on pneumonia, deUvered before the Massa- chusetts medical society (1808), have been published. He died March 1, 1825.

BROOKS, John, philanthropist, was born in Lycoming county. Pa., June 17, 1814, the eldest son of Benjamin Brooks, a soldier of the revolu- tion, who took part in the battles of Germantown and Brandywine. He acquired a knowledge of surveying, and practised it for many years, be- coming also largely interested in lumbering operations. In 1843 he was elect- ed one of the first commissioners of Elk county, Pa., for a term of three years, and served in the Pennsyl- vania legislature in 1877-78 and '79. He was a zealous advocate of tem- perance and edu- cation, erected school buildings, and at his own ' expense maintained a high school for several years, employing capable instructors. He also gave frequent lectures on topics of general in- terest, some of which have been published; notably, a " Lecture on Skulls," " Thesis on Evo- lution," "Prelection, or Thesis on Jesus — the World's Redeemer." and "The Status of Women." He wrote a brief history of Cameron county, and he also furnished data for the histor- ies of McKean, Potter, Elk. and Cameron coun- ties, which greatly enhance the value of those works. He died March 26, 1893.