Notable South Australians/James Brook
James Brook,
|F the legal firm of Messrs. Way & Brook, died on August 24, 1872, at Unley Park. At the time of his decease he was in the vigour of life; of genial and courteous disposition, sterling integrity, and of marked ability in his profession. He was born in Edinburgh, Jan. 12, 1840, where his father, who possessed considerable scientific attainments and literary ability, was a supervisor in the Inland Revenue Service. He was educated principally at the Bristol Grammar School, where he attained good classical knowledge! which he developed in after years by careful study. He arrived in this colony in December, 1853, and entered Mr, Atkinson's law office in May of the next year. After the dissolution of the partnership between Messrs. Atkinson & Andrews, he went into the service of Messrs. Andrews & Bonnin. In 1862 he revisited England, and on his return here was articled to Mr. Way, and admitted as a practitioner of the Supreme Court in March 1868. He was received into partnership by Mr. Way, and during that gentleman's absence in England in 1869 Mr Brook managed the entire business and appeared prominently in the Supreme Court, where his ability as an advocate attracted great attention, and for so young a man he was considered a profound lawyer, with great grasp of mind in mastering difficulties and intricacies. On his partner's return to Adelaide, in April 1870, Mr. Brook visited the old country a second time to recruit his health. He returned in 1871, after which he devoted all his time to his profession. He was a man of varied attainments, fond of music, and possessed a rare fund of humour. He was also distinguished for great industry, as evidenced by the Common-place Book and voluminous MSS. he has left. He occasionally contributed to the press as a correspondent, and was a regular leader-writer for the Telegraphy now out of existence. He edited the first volume of the S. A. Law Reformer, and great interest was taken by him in the status of his profession. He was also President of the Law Society.