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Giles Rooke

1743 – 1808

British judge

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About Giles Rooke

Lived 1743 – 1808 (aged 64). Giles Rooke was a British judge and barrister.

Sir Giles Rooke (1743–1808) was an English judge.

Early life The third son of Giles Rooke, a merchant of London and director of the East India Company, by Frances, daughter of Leonard Cropp (1710–1785) of Southampton, he was born on 3 June 1743. He was educated at Harrow School and matriculated at St John's College, Oxford on 26 November 1759, graduating B.A. in 1763. He proceeded M.A. in 1766, and in the same year was elected to a fellowship at Merton College, which he held until 1785.

Legal career Rooke was also called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1766, and went the Western Circuit. In 1781 he was called to the degree of serjeant-at-law, and in April 1793 was made king's serjeant. At the next Exeter assizes he prosecuted to conviction William Winterbotham, a dissenting minister at Plymouth accused of preaching seditious sermons.

On 13 November 1793, Rooke was appointed to the puisne judgeship of the Court of Common Pleas, left vacant by the death of John Wilson. At the same time he was knighted. He presided at the trial at the York Lent assizes in 1795 of Henry Redhead Yorke for conspiracy against the government.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Education
St John's College, Harrow School
Also known as
Sir Giles Rooke

People in Giles Rooke's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Giles Rooke's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Giles Rooke?

British judge (1743-1808)

When was Giles Rooke born?

Giles Rooke was born on 3 June 1743.

When did Giles Rooke die?

Giles Rooke died on 7 March 1808.

What was Giles Rooke's occupation?

Giles Rooke was a judge and barrister.

What nationality was Giles Rooke?

Giles Rooke was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Giles Rooke

· Wikidata: Q16858312

· DBpedia: Giles Rooke

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Giles Rooke. https://biography.guide/giles-rooke/

MLA: "Giles Rooke." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/giles-rooke/.

Chicago: "Giles Rooke." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/giles-rooke/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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