Sir William Barber, 1st Baronet

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (March 2007)

Sir William Henry Barber, 1st Baronet (9 November 1860 - 2 July 1927), was a wealthy property developer and solicitor who made his fortune expanding Birmingham's sprawling suburbs, when the rapid industrial development of the Black Country Capital in the Gründerzeit took place.

He was married with Martha Constance Hattie Barber. By his mid-thirties the couple retired but their connections with the city remained strong. In 1924 Barber was created a Baronet, of Culham Court in the County of Berkshire, for 'Political Services to Birmingham'. He died in July 1927, aged 66, when the baronetcy became extinct on his death.

He donated the original marble statue to Queen Victoria in Victoria Square, Birmingham in 1897. Designed by Thomas Brock it was unveiled on 10 January 1901, twelve days before the death of the Queen.^[1]

After his death, his widow Lady Barber founded the famous Barber Institute of Fine Arts in memory of her husband. It was bequeathed to the University of Birmingham for the study and encouragement of art and music. Lady Barber's inheritance was also dedicated to the Institute and was used to expand the collection and fund the construction of a new building: the Grade II listed building of art deco architecture was designed by Robert Atkinson and opened in 1939 by Queen Mary.

Baronetage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by New creation	Baronet (of Culham Court) 1924–1927	Succeeded by Extinct

[edit] References