Walter Brooke was born in Charles County, Maryland in 1740 to a family of landowners with ties to the Mason family (George Mason was his first cousin). He began his career as a midshipman with the British Navy before receiving his commission as captain with the Virginia Navy in 1775. Within two years, he was selected as one of three commodores before being named commander-in-chief. Sadly, his career was cut short due to severe gout, and on the advice of his close friend George Washington, he purchased retirement land in…
