Soldier and statesman; born in
Medford, Mass., May 31, 1752; received a common-school education, studied medicine, and settled in its practice at
Reading, where he commanded a company of minute-men when the Revolution began.
With his men he was engaged in the affairs of April 19, 1775, at
Lexington and
Concord.
Brooks was active in intrenching
Breed's Hill (see
Bunker Hill) on the night of June 16, 1775, and was major of a regiment that assisted in fortifying
Dorchester Heights.
Early in 1776 he accompanied it to
Long Island, and fought there.
The
battle of White Plains tested his capacity as a disciplinarian and leader; and early in 1777 he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the 8th Massachusetts Regiment, which was chiefly recruited by himself.
He became colonel of the 7th Massachusetts Regiment late in 1778; and he accompanied
Arnold on his expedition to relieve
Fort Stanwix in 1777.
He led his regiment in battle with great prowess and success at
Saratoga, Oct. 7, 1777; and in the battle of
Monmouth (q. v.) he was acting adjutant-general.
Colonel Brooks resumed the practice of medicine at
Medford after the war, and was for many years major-general of militia.
He served cheerfully and efficiently in various civil and military duties to which his countrymen called him; was adjutant-general of
Massachusetts during the
War of 1812-15; and was governor of that commonwealth from 1816 to 1823, when he retired to private life.
In 1816 Harvard University
conferred upon him the degrees of M. D. and Ll.D. From 1817 until his death, March 1, 1825, he was president of the
Massachusetts Medical Society; of the
State Society of the Cincinnati from 1787: and of the Massachusetts Bible Society.
