Charles Acton Broke (abt. 1819 - 1855)

Born about 1819 in England

Descendants

Died 7 Sep 1855 at about age 36 in Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland

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Biography

Charles was born about 1819. He passed away in 1855.

Sources

• Illustrated London News, 22 September 1855 page 21, findmypast

OBITUARY OF EMINENT PERSONS

CAPTAIN CHARLES ACTON BROKE, ROYAL ENGINEERS.

This officer was the third and youngest son of the late Admiral Sir Philip Broke, Bart., of Broke-hall, Suffolk, who fought the famous action, when in command of H.M. frigate Shannon, against the American frigate Chesapeake, in 1812. Charles Acton Broke entered the Royal Engineers in 1836; and, after serving in various parts of the world, was quartered for many years in the Meditrerranean, and latterly in the island of Zante. From one end of that sea to the other he was well known to all her Majesty’s ships, merchantmen, and yachts, as “Signal Broke;” for, inheriting from his father an ardent love of the sea, and living at the highet point of the citadel of Zante, at an elevation of 700 feet above the sea, he challenged all vessels passing the island from his signal posts, and often extracted from them interesting and important news for the use of the garrison. Not less was he distinguished for his unbounded hospitality to the residents and visitors, and for his charity to the poor, of the island. During the last three winters, when, owing to the continuous failure of the current crops, the destitution in Zante became awfully great, Captain Broke supported forty or fifty starving families residing in the town, or in the village under the walls of the Castle. He was obliged ro return home in July last on account of ill-health: he lingered in Ayrshire for a few weeks, and died of decline on the 7th inst., bitterly regretted. He married, in 1849, Anna Maria, third daughter of the late John Hamilton, Esq., of Sundrum, Ayrshire, by whom he has left issue one son and three daughters.

• Saint James’s Chronicle, 18 September 1855 page 4. findmypast

DEATHS.

Sept. 7, at Ayr, N.B. Captain Charles Acton Broke, Royal Engineers, third son of the late Rear Admiral Sir Philip Bowes Vere Broke, Bart., K.C.B., aged 36.