Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 03.djvu/205

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
Barker
199
Barker

it fell flat, though it was deemed of sufficient importance to be answered by J. H. Monk, subsequently bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, in the same review, xxiv. 376–400 (1821). In Barker's ‘Parriana; or Notices of the Rev. Samuel Parr, LL.D.,’ 1828–9, 2 vols., and in his posthumous ‘Literary Anecdotes and Contemporary Reminiscences of Professor Porson,’ 1852, 2 vols., may be found considerable information about those two scholars; but both works are deficient in discrimination and method. In the ‘Pamphleteer,’ xxi. 189–205 (1822), is the second edition of a vigorous and manly argument from Barker in support of the Greek cause; and in the same collection of pamphlets (xxvii. 415–30, 1826) is a tract to disprove the claims of Sir Philip Francis to the authorship of ‘Junius,’ a subject on which he addressed numerous printed letters to his friends between 1826 and 1830. To A. J. Valpy's ‘Classical Journal’ he was a frequent contributor from its third number to its close, and he also wrote in the ‘British Critic’ and the ‘Monthly Magazine.’ He is sometimes credited with the authorship of a few books for children, of some popularity in their day; but this statement can hardly be accepted by those who are familiar with his recognised volumes. Barker's powers of application were unbounded; but his critical acumen was inferior to his industry. He must rank in the annals of classical scholarship with Joshua Barnes.

[Literary Anecdotes of Porson, with Memoir of Barker in vol. i.; Gent. Mag. xi. 543–7 (1839), by B., i.e. George Burges; A. Blomfield's Life of C. J. Blomfield, i. 27–36.]

W. P. C.

BARKER, FRANCIS (d. 1859?), Irish physician, graduated B.A. at Trinity College, Dublin, in 1793, and afterwards studied medicine at Edinburgh. He there became intimate with Sir Walter Scott. On taking a medical degree at Edinburgh he composed a thesis, ‘De invento Galvani,’ suggesting the identity of the nervous fluid and dynamical electricity. After residing in Waterford for five years, where he opened the first fever hospital in Ireland, he settled in Dublin; in 1808 was elected professor of chemistry there, and took the M.B. and M.D. degrees in 1810. He started the first Irish medical journal in conjunction with Dr. Todd. In 1804 he was elected senior physician to the Cork Street Hospital, and from 1820 to 1852 was secretary to the Irish board of health. He published many reports on fevers, and in 1821, in conjunction with Dr. Cheyne, a work on ‘Epidemic Fevers in Ireland.’ In 1826 he edited the Dublin Pharmacopœia. He died about 1859.

[Dr. Waller in Imperial Biog. Dict.; Cat. of Dublin Graduates, 1591–1868.]

BARKER, FREDERICK, D.D. (1808–1882), second bishop of Sydney and metropolitan of Australia, was grandson of William Barker, dean of Raphoe, 1757–1776, and the fifth son of the Rev. John Barker, vicar of Baslow by Bakewell, Derbyshire, who died 6 June 1824. Frederick Barker was born at Baslow on 17 March 1808. He was educated at Grantham School and Jesus College, Cambridge, where he took his B.A. degree in 1831 and proceeded M.A. in 1839. He was appointed 24 April 1831 to the perpetual curacy of Upton, a small village in Cheshire, where he ministered until 28 Sept. 1834, and then spent a few months (4 Oct. to 21 Dec. 1834) in Ireland in the service of the Irish Church Mission. In the beginning of 1835 he was appointed to the perpetual curacy of St. Mary's, Edgehill, Liverpool, and held this preferment for over nineteen years. In the course of his incumbency he manifested a warm interest in scriptural education. On account of failing health Barker was induced to accept from the patron, the Duke of Devonshire, the paternal vicarage of Baslow, which had fallen vacant by the death of his elder brother, the Rev. Anthony Auriol Barker, on 21 Dec. 1853. Before leaving Liverpool Barker published a volume entitled ‘Thirty-six Psalms, with Commentary and Prayer for Use in Families,’ London, 1854. Barker also contributed to ‘A Course of Sermons on the Principal Errors of the Church of Rome, preached in St. Andrew's Church, Liverpool, by Ten Clergymen of the Church of England,’ 1838; to ‘A Course of Sermons on Romanism, preached in St. Michael's Church, Liverpool, in 1838–9, by several Clergymen of the Church of England,’ 1840; and to ‘Twenty-two Sermons by different Clergymen, contributed in aid of the Erection and Endowment of a New Church at Grange in the Parish of Cartmel, Lancashire,’ 12mo, Liverpool, 2nd edition, 1854.

Barker had been scarcely three months in residence at Baslow, when he was selected by Archbishop Summer in August 1854 to succeed Dr. Broughton as bishop of Sydney, New South Wales. This office carried with it, by the queen's letters patent, dated 19 Oct. 1854, that of metropolitan of Australia. He was consecrated at Lambeth on St. Andrew's day, 30 Nov. 1854, and received the degree of D.D. per literas regias. He arrived in Sydney in May 1855. His predecessor had procured the erection of the sees of Tasmania