Charles Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Street Michael and Street George, born Charles Anthoni Johnson, ruled as the head of state of Sarawak from 3 August 1868 until his death.
Background
Charles was born in Berrow Vicarage, Burnham, Somerset, in England, to the Review Francis Charles and Emma Frances Johnson. In addition to Charles, Francis and Emma had other children: Captain John Brooke Johnson (1823–1868) (later Brooke Brooke), Mary Anna Johnson (b 1824), Harriet Helena Johnson (b 1826), Charlotte Frances Johnson (b 1828), Captain (William) Frederic Johnson (b 1830), Emma Lucy Johnson (b 1832), Margaret Henrietta Johnson (1834–1845), Georgianna Brooke Johnson (1836–1854), James Stuart Johnson (1839–1840), and Henry Stuart Johnson (b 1841).
Education
Charles was educated at Crewkerne Grammar School and entered the Royal Navy.
Career
Emma Frances Johnson, née Brooke, was the younger sister of James Brooke, the first Rajah of Sarawak. In 1865, James named Charles as his successor. Charles married Margaret Alice Lili de Windt at Highworth, Wiltshire on 28 October 1869.
She was raised to the title of Ranee of Sarawak with the style of Her Highness 28 October 1869.
They had six children, three of whom survived infancy: Dayang Ghita Brooke (1870–1873) James Harry Brooke (1872–1873) Charles Clayton Brooke (1872–1873) Vyner of Sarawak (1874–1963) Bertram, Tuan Muda (1876–1965) Henry Keppel Brooke, Tuan Bongsu (1879–1926) However, Charles also had another son, Esca Brooke (1867–1953), born of a liaison with a Malay woman known as Dayang Mastiah. Esca was later adopted by Review
William Daykin, moved to Canada, and adopted the name Brooke-Daykin. In 1891 he established the Sarawak Museum, the first museum in Borneo.
Brooke founded a boys" school in 1903, called the "Government Lay School", where Malays could be taught in the Malay language.
This was the forerunner of SMK Green Road. By the time of his death, Britain had granted Sarawak protectorate status, it had a parliamentary government and a railway, and oil had been discovered. All three White Rajahs are buried in Street Leonard"s Church in the village of Sheepstor on Dartmoor.