The owners of Lackham in the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries ...

The Manor of Lackham IV : 19 th & 20 th century owners
George and Mary’s fifth son was Captain Frederick William Rooke 64 RN,
(1782 - 1855) who was the owner of Lackham. He was born on 17 th
October 1782 at Castle House in Calne 65 . His education remains to be
discovered but he joined the Royal Naval Academy 66 when he was only 13,
in May 1796 67
Rooke’s military career, of course, was during the Napoleonic War, and
his career gives insights into the naval side of that vast conflict.
It is interesting that Rooke joined the Academy because
the Academy did not achieve the objective of becoming the
preferred path to becoming a naval officers. The traditional
means of a sea going ‘apprenticeship’ remained the preferred
alternative. The vast majority of the officer class was still
recruited in this manner based on family ties, and patronage.
Family connections, ‘interest’ and a sincere belief in the
superiority of practical experience learnt on the quarterdeck
ensured that the officer class favoured the traditional model
but it may be that the Rookes didn’t have the “means and connections to
secure a traditional berth as a youngster” 68 .
Frederick Rooke had an interesting naval career which was summarised in
his obituary in 1856:
64 Vernon, T (1969) pamphlet A short history of the Lords of the Manor of
Lackham from Saxon Days Lackham College,.
65 Rooke S (2003) pers.comm. 17 th October 1782
66 Which was at Portsmouth for the first 104 years of its existence (from
1733). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Naval_Academy
67 O’Byrne, WR (1849) Naval Biographical Dictionary vol Q-R p54
68 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Naval_Academy
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