Dictionary of Indian Biography/Brooke, Sir James
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BROOKE, SIR JAMES (1803–1868)
Raja of Sarawak: son of Thomas Brooke of the India Civil Service: born at Benares in 1803: educated at Norwich: ran away from school and entered the Bengal Native Infantry in 1819: served in the Burmese war of 1824: was wounded and sent home: resigned the E. I. Co.'s service in 1830: in 1838 he sailed in a private vessel to Borneo, to Sarawak: and became its Raja in 1841 by invitation: there he passed the remainder of his career, suppressing rebellion, piracy, cruelty, and establishing civilized government: retired in 1860: was made K.C.B: D.C.L. Oxford: died in 1868.