Charles Anthoni Johnson Brooke
Encyclopedia
Charles, Rajah of Sarawak, GCMG
(Charles Anthony Johnson Brooke; 3 June 1829 – 17 May 1917), born Charles Anthony Johnson, ruled as the head of state
of Sarawak
from 3 August 1868 until his death. He succeeded his uncle, James Brooke
, as the second White Rajah of this small country on the coast of Borneo
.
, Somerset
, in England
, to the Rev. Francis Charles and Emma Frances Johnson, the younger sister of Rajah Sir James Brooke. Francis and Emma had other children: Captain John Brooke Johnson (1823–1868) (later Brooke Brooke), Mary Anna Johnson (b. 1824), Harriet Helena Johnson (b. 1826), Charlotte Frances Johnson (b. 1828), Captain (William) Frederic Johnson (b. 1830), Emma Lucy Johnson (b. 1832), Margaret Henrietta Johnson (1834–1845), Georgianna Brooke Johnson (1836–1854), James Stuart Johnson (1839–1840), and Henry Stuart Johnson (b. 1841).
Charles was educated at Crewkerne Grammar School and entered the Royal Navy
. He adopted his uncle James's name and entered his service in 1852 as Resident at the Lundu
station. In 1865, James named Charles as his successor.
Charles married Margaret Alice Lili de Windt at Highworth
, Wiltshire
on 28 October 1869; she was raised to the title of Ranee
of Sarawak with the style of Her Highness 28 October 1869. They had six children, three of whom survived infancy
:
Evidence also exists (see Reece cited in references below) that Charles Brooke had another son, Esca Brooke, born of a liaison with a native Malay woman which was unrecognized in English law. Esca was later adopted by Rev. William Daykin and moved to Canada.
Charles continued the work his uncle had started, suppressing piracy, slavery
, and head-hunting, while encouraging trade and development and expanding his borders as the opportunity arose. In 1891 he established the Sarawak Museum, the first museum in Borneo
. Brooke founded a boys' school in 1903, called the 'Government Lay School', where Malays could be taught in the Malay language
. This was the forerunner of SMK Green Road
. By the time of his death, Britain had granted Sarawak protectorate
status, it had a parliamentary government and a railway, and oil had been discovered.
All three White Rajahs are buried in St Leonard's Church in the village of Sheepstor
on Dartmoor
.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(Charles Anthony Johnson Brooke; 3 June 1829 – 17 May 1917), born Charles Anthony Johnson, ruled as the head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
of Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
from 3 August 1868 until his death. He succeeded his uncle, James Brooke
James Brooke
James, Rajah of Sarawak, KCB was the first White Rajah of Sarawak. His father, Thomas Brooke, was an English Judge Court of Appeal at Bareilly, British India; his mother, Anna Maria, born in Hertfordshire, was the illegitimate daughter of Scottish peer Colonel William Stuart, 9th Lord Blantyre,...
, as the second White Rajah of this small country on the coast of Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
.
Biography
Charles was born in Berrow Vicarage, BurnhamBurnham-on-Sea
Burnham-on-Sea is a town in Somerset, England, at the mouth of the River Parrett and Bridgwater Bay. Burnham was a small village until the late 18th century, when it began to grow because of its popularity as a seaside resort. It forms part of the parish of Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, to the Rev. Francis Charles and Emma Frances Johnson, the younger sister of Rajah Sir James Brooke. Francis and Emma had other children: Captain John Brooke Johnson (1823–1868) (later Brooke Brooke), Mary Anna Johnson (b. 1824), Harriet Helena Johnson (b. 1826), Charlotte Frances Johnson (b. 1828), Captain (William) Frederic Johnson (b. 1830), Emma Lucy Johnson (b. 1832), Margaret Henrietta Johnson (1834–1845), Georgianna Brooke Johnson (1836–1854), James Stuart Johnson (1839–1840), and Henry Stuart Johnson (b. 1841).
Charles was educated at Crewkerne Grammar School and entered the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. He adopted his uncle James's name and entered his service in 1852 as Resident at the Lundu
Lundu, Sarawak
Lundu is a town located in the Northwest of Kuching Division of Sarawak, Malaysia,and borders with Indonesian Province of West Kalimantan.-History:...
station. In 1865, James named Charles as his successor.
Charles married Margaret Alice Lili de Windt at Highworth
Highworth
Highworth is a market town in the unitary authority of Swindon in Wiltshire, England, located about north-east of Swindon town centre. At the 2001 census it had a population of 7,996...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
on 28 October 1869; she was raised to the title of Ranee
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
of Sarawak with the style of Her Highness 28 October 1869. They had six children, three of whom survived infancy
Infant mortality
Infant mortality is defined as the number of infant deaths per 1000 live births. Traditionally, the most common cause worldwide was dehydration from diarrhea. However, the spreading information about Oral Re-hydration Solution to mothers around the world has decreased the rate of children dying...
:
- Dayang Ghita Brooke (1870–1873)
- James Harry Brooke (1872–1873)
- Charles Clayton Brooke (1872–1873)
- Vyner of Sarawak (1874–1963)
- BertramBertram Willes Dayrell BrookeCaptain Bertram Willes Dayrell Brooke, Tuan Muda of Sarawak was a member of the family of White Rajahs who ruled Sarawak for a hundred years. He was the son of Charles, the second of these rajahs, and brother to Vyner of Sarawak, the third and final ruler of that family...
, Tuan MudaTuan Muda of SarawakThis is the title of the Heir Presumptive to the Rajah of Sarawak. It literally means "Little Lord". The wife of the Tuan Muda is styled the Dayang Muda....
(1876–1965) - Harry Keppel Brooke, Tuan Bongsu (1879–1926)
Evidence also exists (see Reece cited in references below) that Charles Brooke had another son, Esca Brooke, born of a liaison with a native Malay woman which was unrecognized in English law. Esca was later adopted by Rev. William Daykin and moved to Canada.
Charles continued the work his uncle had started, suppressing piracy, slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
, and head-hunting, while encouraging trade and development and expanding his borders as the opportunity arose. In 1891 he established the Sarawak Museum, the first museum in Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
. Brooke founded a boys' school in 1903, called the 'Government Lay School', where Malays could be taught in the Malay language
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
. This was the forerunner of SMK Green Road
SMK GREEN ROAD
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Green Road is a public secondary school located in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.-History:...
. By the time of his death, Britain had granted Sarawak protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
status, it had a parliamentary government and a railway, and oil had been discovered.
All three White Rajahs are buried in St Leonard's Church in the village of Sheepstor
Sheepstor
Sheepstor is a village and civil parish on the western side of Dartmoor in the county of Devon, England. In 2001 its population was 53, down from 95 in 1901. For administrative purposes the parish is grouped with the parishes of Meavy and Walkhampton to form Burrator Parish Council, and for...
on Dartmoor
Dartmoor
Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The...
.