Robert Brooke (East India Company officer)

Brooke was born in Rathavan House, Co. Cavan, Ireland, and entered the service of the East India Company in 1764 as a cadet, aged 20.

He attempted to establish a cotton industry in the area, and the town of Prosperous owes its origin to the vision and ideals of Robert Brooke.

Prosperous declined to such an extent as to be described by Lewis in 1837 as "little more than a pile of ruins" situated "in a low marshy spot, surrounded by bogs and without water of importance nor reasonable hope of its revival".

Despite having overstayed his leave in 1775, he applied for re-instatement in the army, and, although the request was initially refused, in fact he was almost immediately made governor on Saint Helena.

He is still celebrated in Prosperous, County Kildare where there are two wall plaques – one marking the bi-centenary of the town he founded and the other depicting two females at weaving looms.