From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Edward William Brooke III (born October 26, 1919) is an American politician.
Born in Washington, DC, Brooke graduated from Howard University in 1941 and graduated from Boston University Law School in 1948. He was a captain in the United States Army, infantry. He was the chairman of Finance Commission, city of Boston from 1961-62. Brooke was elected attorney general of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1962 and reelected in 1964. In this position, he gained a reputation as a vigorous prosecutor of organized crime.
Brooke was elected to the United States Senate in 1966. He was the first African American to be elected by popular vote to the Senate. He served as a Republican from Massachusetts. He was a U.S. Senator for two terms from January 3, 1967 to January 3, 1979.
