viscount brookeborough, of colebrooke in the county of fermanagh, is a title in the peerage of the united kingdom. it was created in 1952 for the ulster unionist politician and prime minister of northern ireland, captain the rt. hon. sir basil brooke, 5th bt., p.c. (n.i.), m.p.. the brooke family descends from sir basil brooke (b. 1567), a captain in the english army in ireland and governor of county donegal in west ulster, who was granted extensive lands in that county. his son, sir henry brooke (d. 1671), was granted the lands of and around brookeborough in county fermanagh, also in west ulster. he was governor of county donegal and a member of the irish parliament for brookeborough. his son, thomas brooke (d. c. 1696), of colebrooke, county fermanagh, was a member of the irish parliament and supporter of william iii and mary ii. his estates were forfeited by james ii. his son, henry brooke (d. 1761), represented dundalk and fermanagh in the irish parliament. his younger son was francis brooke, of colebrooke. his son, henry brooke, was created a baronet, of colebrooke in the county of fermanagh, in the baronetage of the united kingdom on 7 january 1822. he was succeeded by his son, arthur, the second baronet. he was conservative member of parliament for county fermanagh at westminster. on his death in 1854, the title passed to his eldest son, victor, the third baronet. he served as a deputy lieutenant and was high sheriff of county fermanagh in 1867. his eldest son, arthur, the fourth baronet, was sheriff of county fermanagh in 1896 and a deputy lieutenant and justice of the peace for the county. he was succeeded by his eldest son, the aforementioned fifth baronet, who was elevated to the peerage in 1952. his second but eldest surviving son, the second viscount, was also a controversial politician.  the titles are held by the latter's eldest son, the third viscount, who succeeded in 1987. he is one of the ninety elected hereditary peers that remain in the house of lords after the passing of the house of lords act 1999, and sits as a cross-bencher. numerous other members of the brooke
Viscountcies_in_the_Peerage_of_the_United_Kingdom