David Brooks (politician)
Encyclopedia
David Brooks was an officer in the Continental Army in the American Revolution
and a United States representative from New York.
Brooks was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
and attended the public schools there. In 1776, he entered the Continental Army as a lieutenant. He was captured at Fort Washington
on November 16, 1776. He was a prisoner-of-war for over three years, finally being exchanged in January 1780. As a parolee, he was not allowed in combat again, so he was appointed assistant clothier general.
During the 1780s, Brooks studied law, was admitted to the bar, and began practicing law. He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati
upon its founding in 1783. He moved to New York County, New York (modern day Manhattan) and was a member of the New York state assembly from 1787 to 1788. Brooks then moved to Dutchess County, New York
and again was a member of the New York state assembly from 1794 to 1796. In 1795, Brooks was also made a judge of Dutchess County, a job he would keep until 1807 in spite of the fact that, at various times, he would be concurrently a state or federal legislator or a federal officer.
In 1796, Brooks was elected to the House of Representatives, serving from March 4, 1797 to March 4, 1799. He ran failed campaigns for reelection in 1798 and 1800.
In the 19th century, Brooks was appointed as a commissioner to negotiate a treaty with the Seneca nation
. In 1807, Brooks finally left his job as judge of Dutchess County to become clerk of Dutchess County, a job he held from June 5, 1807, to January 25, 1809, from February 9, 1810, to February 11, 1811, and again from February 23, 1813, to February 13, 1815. Brooks was also served on the New York state assembly again in 1810.
Brooks was later appointed an officer in the United States Custom Service. He died in Poughkeepsie, New York
on August 30, 1838.
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
and a United States representative from New York.
Brooks was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
and attended the public schools there. In 1776, he entered the Continental Army as a lieutenant. He was captured at Fort Washington
Fort Washington
Fort Washington may refer to:In the United States:* In California:** Fort Washington, California, census-designated place* In Maryland:** Fort Washington, Maryland, census-designated place...
on November 16, 1776. He was a prisoner-of-war for over three years, finally being exchanged in January 1780. As a parolee, he was not allowed in combat again, so he was appointed assistant clothier general.
During the 1780s, Brooks studied law, was admitted to the bar, and began practicing law. He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati
Society of the Cincinnati
The Society of the Cincinnati is a historical organization with branches in the United States and France founded in 1783 to preserve the ideals and fellowship of the American Revolutionary War officers and to pressure the government to honor pledges it had made to officers who fought for American...
upon its founding in 1783. He moved to New York County, New York (modern day Manhattan) and was a member of the New York state assembly from 1787 to 1788. Brooks then moved to Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
and again was a member of the New York state assembly from 1794 to 1796. In 1795, Brooks was also made a judge of Dutchess County, a job he would keep until 1807 in spite of the fact that, at various times, he would be concurrently a state or federal legislator or a federal officer.
In 1796, Brooks was elected to the House of Representatives, serving from March 4, 1797 to March 4, 1799. He ran failed campaigns for reelection in 1798 and 1800.
In the 19th century, Brooks was appointed as a commissioner to negotiate a treaty with the Seneca nation
Seneca nation
The Seneca are a group of indigenous people native to North America. They were the nation located farthest to the west within the Six Nations or Iroquois League in New York before the American Revolution. While exact population figures are unknown, approximately 15,000 to 25,000 Seneca live in...
. In 1807, Brooks finally left his job as judge of Dutchess County to become clerk of Dutchess County, a job he held from June 5, 1807, to January 25, 1809, from February 9, 1810, to February 11, 1811, and again from February 23, 1813, to February 13, 1815. Brooks was also served on the New York state assembly again in 1810.
Brooks was later appointed an officer in the United States Custom Service. He died in Poughkeepsie, New York
Poughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
on August 30, 1838.