James Brooke
Sir James Brooke, Rajah[note] of Sarawak KCB (29 April 1803 – 11 June 1868), was a British soldier and adventurer who founded the Raj of Sarawak in Borneo. He ruled as the first White Rajah of Sarawak from 1841 until his death in 1868.
| James Brooke | |
|---|---|
Portrait by Herbert Watkins, 1858 | |
| Rajah of Sarawak | |
| Reign | 18 August 1842 – 11 June 1868 |
| Installation | 18 August 1842 |
| Predecessor | Sultan Tengah (as Sultan of Sarawak) Pengiran Indera Mahkota Mohammad Salleh (as Governor of Sarawak) |
| Successor | Charles Brooke |
| Born | 29 April 1803 Bandel, Hooghly, British India |
| Died | 11 June 1868 (aged 65) Burrator, United Kingdom |
| Burial | St Leonard's Church, Sheepstor, Dartmoor |
| Issue | Reuben George Walker (Brooke) Pengiran Anak Fatima |
| House | Brooke dynasty |
| Father | Thomas Brooke |
| Mother | Anna Maria Brooke |
| Religion | Christianity (Church of England) |
| Occupation | Former soldier, trader, independent gentleman, Governor; |
| 1st Governor of Labuan | |
| In office 1848–1853 | |
| Lieutenant | William Napier (1848–1850) John Scott (1850–1856) |
| Preceded by | Newly Created |
| Succeeded by | George Warren Edwardes |
| 1st Consul General to the Sultan and Independent Chiefs of Borneo | |
| In office 1847–1853 | |
| Succeeded by | Spenser St. John |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | British Empire |
| Branch/service | Bengal Army, British East India Company |
| Years of service | 1819–1830 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | 6th Regiment Native Infantry |
| Battles/wars | (1824–1825) |
Brooke was born and raised during the Company Raj of the British East India Company in India. After a few years of education in England, he served in the Bengal Army, was wounded, and resigned his commission. He then bought a ship and sailed out to the Malay Archipelago where, by helping to crush a rebellion, he became governor of Sarawak. He then vigorously suppressed piracy in the region and, in the ensuing turmoil, restored the Sultan of Brunei to his throne, for which the Sultan made Brooke the Rajah of Sarawak. He ruled until his death.
Brooke was not without detractors and was criticised in the British Parliament and officially investigated in Singapore for his anti-piracy measures. He was, however, honoured and feted in London for his activities in Southeast Asia. The naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace was one of many visitors whose published work spoke of his hospitality and achievements.