Edmund Henry Barker

Edmund Henry Barker (1788 – 21 March 1839) was an English classical scholar.

Life

He was born at Hollym in Yorkshire. He entered Trinity College, Cambridge, as a scholar in 1807, and in 1809 won the Browne medal for Greek and Latin epigrams. However, he left the university without a degree, being prevented by religious scruples from taking the Oath of Supremacy then required.^[1]

After acting as amanuensis to Samuel Parr, vicar of Hatton, Warwickshire, he married and settled down at Thetford in Norfolk, where he lived for about twenty-five years. He was in the habit of adding the initials O.T.N. (of Thetford, Norfolk) to the title-page of his published works. In later life he became involved in a lawsuit in connection with a will, and thus exhausted his means. In 1837–1838 he was a prisoner for debt in the king's bench and in the Fleet. He died in London on 21 March 1839.

Works

Barker was a prolific writer on classical and other subjects. In addition to contributing to the Classical Journal, he edited portions of several classical authors for the use of schools. He was one of the first commentators to write notes in English instead of Latin.

In a volume of letters he disputed the claims of Sir Philip Francis to the authorship of the Letters of Junius (see identity of Junius). His Parriana (1828), based around Samuel Parr, is a vast and ill-digested compilation of literary anecdotes and criticisms. He also saw through the press the English edition of Lemprière's Classical Dictionary (revised by Charles Anthon) and of Webster's English Dictionary. It is as a lexicographer, however, that Barker is chiefly known.

While at Hatton, he planned a new edition of Stephanus's Thesaurus Graecae Linguae. The work was undertaken by Abraham John Valpy, and, although not explicitly stated, it was understood that Barker was the responsible editor. When a few parts had appeared, it was severely criticized in the Quarterly Review (xxii., 1820) by Edward Valentine Blomfield; the result was the curtailment of the original plan of the work and the omission of Barker’s name in connection with it. It was completed in twelve volumes (1816–1828). The strictures of the Quarterly were answered by Barker in his Aristarchus Anti-Blomfieldianus, which, although unconvincing, was in turn answered by James Henry Monk.

Continental scholars entertained a more favourable opinion of him than those of his own country. He expressed contempt for the minute verbal criticism of the Porsonian school, in which he was himself deficient.

References

•  Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Barker, Edmund Henry". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press  which in turn cites:
  • Gentleman's Magazine, May 1839 which has a full account of his life
  • Notes and Queries (6th series, xii. p. 443) where a full list of his works is given

External links

• "Barker, Edmund Henry (BRKR805EH)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.