Henry Brooke

Henry Brooke (1703-1783) was an Irish poet, novelist, and playwright.

Life
Brooke was born in Ireland, son of a clergyman. He studied law, but embraced literature as a career. He wrote poems, dramas, and novels; but the only work which has kept its place is The Fool of Quality (5 volumes, 1766-1770), which was a favourite book with John Wesley. His now forgotten poem, "Universal Beauty" (1735), was admired by Pope.

His daughter Charlott, the only survivor of 22 children, tended him to his last days of decay. She was herself a writer, her principal work being Reliques of Irish Poetry (1789). She died in 1793.