George Rooke ca.1650-1709
From Book Owners Online
Sir George ROOKE ca.1650-1709
Biographical Note
Born at Canterbury, son of Colonel Sir William Rooke, of St Lawrence House near Canterbury. He entered the Navy in 1672 and was at the Battle of Solebay; he subsequently developed a successful naval career, involved in numerous actions during the 1670s and 80s, and becoming a rear-admiral in 1689, and an admiral in 1693. He led the fleet which captured Gibraltar in 1704. He was MP for Portsmouth 1698-1708, and knighted in 1693.
Characteristic Markings
Rooke used an engraved armorial bookplate dated 1702 (Franks *366). The extent and disposal of his library is not known; his lengthy will has no explicit reference to books.
Sources
- Will of Sir George Rooke, The National Archives PROB 11/506/398.
- Hattendorf, John B. '["Rooke, Sir George (c. 1650–1709), naval officer."]' Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
- Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903.