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After graduating from the [[Royal Naval College, Portsmouth]], he takes up a commission in the Royal Marines. During the [[American Revolutionary War]], he is almost killed by a falling [[spar (sailing)|spar]], and takes several years to recover.
Just before the First Fleet sails for what is to be the [[penal colony]] of New South Wales, he is invited by the Astronomer Royal to take instruments and observe the passage of a predicted comet. He accepts, and is also in the company of another officer (Silk) who he had known during the war.
As the astronomer, Rooke is given considerable freedom and establishes an observatory on a headland outside the colony's camp, and remains there in a hut except when required to be at the camp or on routine, weekly meals to remain in contact with other officers.
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