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{{Use dmy dates|date=April | {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2012}} | ||
{{Infobox military person | {{Infobox military person | ||
| name =Sir Robert Barker, Bt | | name =Sir Robert Barker, Bt | ||
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==Military career== | ==Military career== | ||
Barker was the eldest son of Robert Barker M.D., of [[Hammersmith]], and his wife Hannah Whitehead.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1754-1790/member/barker-sir-robert-1732-89|title=Barker, Sir Robert (?1732–89), of Busbridge, Surr., History of Parliament Online|accessdate=8 August | Barker was the eldest son of Robert Barker M.D., of [[Hammersmith]], and his wife Hannah Whitehead.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1754-1790/member/barker-sir-robert-1732-89|title=Barker, Sir Robert (?1732–89), of Busbridge, Surr., History of Parliament Online|accessdate=8 August 2018}}</ref> He went to [[India]] in 1749 and in 1757, during the [[Seven Years' War]], commanded the artillery at the Capture of [[Chandannagar]] and at the [[Battle of Plassey]].<ref name=odnb>[http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/1410?docPos=3 Sir Robert Barker at Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]</ref> In 1762 he went on an expedition to [[Manila]] in the [[Philippines]].<ref name=odnb/> He was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] on 16 January 1764.<ref name=odnb/><ref>Stephens 1885, p. 208.</ref> | ||
Two years later he returned to [[India]] to protect the [[Nawab of Awadh|Nawab wazir of Oudh]] [[Shuja-ud-Daula]].<ref name=odnb/> In 1769 he became [[Commander-in-Chief, India]]<ref name=smith>[https://books.google.com/books?id=P_cNAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PR20&dq=%22General+Charles+Morgan%22&lr=&cd=24#v=onepage&q=%22General%20Charles%20Morgan%22&f=false The Bengal almanac, for 1827, compiled by S. Smith and Co., Page XX]</ref> he became likewise provincial commander-in-chief in Bengal to the great disgust of Sir [[Fletcher baronets|Richard Fletcher]].{{sfn|Stephens|1885|p=209}} | Two years later he returned to [[India]] to protect the [[Nawab of Awadh|Nawab wazir of Oudh]] [[Shuja-ud-Daula]].<ref name=odnb/> In 1769 he became [[Commander-in-Chief, India]]<ref name=smith>[https://books.google.com/books?id=P_cNAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PR20&dq=%22General+Charles+Morgan%22&lr=&cd=24#v=onepage&q=%22General%20Charles%20Morgan%22&f=false The Bengal almanac, for 1827, compiled by S. Smith and Co., Page XX]</ref> he became likewise provincial commander-in-chief in Bengal to the great disgust of Sir [[Fletcher baronets|Richard Fletcher]].{{sfn|Stephens|1885|p=209}} | ||
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However he exceeded his authority by committing the [[East India Company]] to guaranteeing a treaty and by confronting a possible [[Maratha Empire]] invasion.<ref name=odnb/> He resigned in 1773: Colonel [[Alexander Champion (East India Company officer)|Champion]], who succeeded him, had to conduct the first Rohilla war.{{sfn|Stephens|1885|p=209}} | However he exceeded his authority by committing the [[East India Company]] to guaranteeing a treaty and by confronting a possible [[Maratha Empire]] invasion.<ref name=odnb/> He resigned in 1773: Colonel [[Alexander Champion (East India Company officer)|Champion]], who succeeded him, had to conduct the first Rohilla war.{{sfn|Stephens|1885|p=209}} | ||
Barker returned to [[England]] becoming [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Wallingford (UK Parliament constituency)|Wallingford]] in 1774.<ref name=odnb/> He was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] in 1775.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://collections.royalsociety.org/DServe.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqDb=Persons&dsqPos=5&dsqSearch=((text)%3D'barker')| title= Royal Society Fellows Details|publisher= The Royal Society|accessdate = 6 May | Barker returned to [[England]] becoming [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Wallingford (UK Parliament constituency)|Wallingford]] in 1774.<ref name=odnb/> He was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] in 1775.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://collections.royalsociety.org/DServe.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqDb=Persons&dsqPos=5&dsqSearch=((text)%3D'barker')| title= Royal Society Fellows Details|publisher= The Royal Society|accessdate = 6 May 2014}}</ref> In 1781 he was created a [[baronet]], of [[Busbridge|Bushbridge]] in the [[County of Surrey]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=12172 |date=20 March 1781 |page=5}}</ref> Barker's ability as an officer won him the friendship and esteem of Clive.{{sfn|Stephens|1885|p=209}} | ||
==Family== | ==Family== | ||
Latest revision as of 00:55, 28 October 2022
Sir Robert Barker, Bt | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1732 |
| Died | 14 September 1789 |
| Allegiance | File:Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service/ | British Army |
| Rank | Brigadier-General |
| Commands held | British Indian Army |
| Battles/wars | Seven Years' War |
Brigadier-General Sir Robert Barker, 1st Baronet, FRS (1732 – 14 September 1789) was a British Army officer who served in the Seven Years' War and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1774 to 1780. He served as Commander-in-Chief, India between 1770 and 1773.
Military career[edit | edit source]
Barker was the eldest son of Robert Barker M.D., of Hammersmith, and his wife Hannah Whitehead.[1] He went to India in 1749 and in 1757, during the Seven Years' War, commanded the artillery at the Capture of Chandannagar and at the Battle of Plassey.[2] In 1762 he went on an expedition to Manila in the Philippines.[2] He was knighted on 16 January 1764.[2][3]
Two years later he returned to India to protect the Nawab wazir of Oudh Shuja-ud-Daula.[2] In 1769 he became Commander-in-Chief, India[4] he became likewise provincial commander-in-chief in Bengal to the great disgust of Sir Richard Fletcher.[5]
However he exceeded his authority by committing the East India Company to guaranteeing a treaty and by confronting a possible Maratha Empire invasion.[2] He resigned in 1773: Colonel Champion, who succeeded him, had to conduct the first Rohilla war.[5]
Barker returned to England becoming Member of Parliament for Wallingford in 1774.[2] He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1775.[6] In 1781 he was created a baronet, of Bushbridge in the County of Surrey.[7] Barker's ability as an officer won him the friendship and esteem of Clive.[5]
Family[edit | edit source]
In 1780 he married Anne Hallows: they had no children. They lived at Bushbridge near Godalming in Surrey.[2]
Works[edit | edit source]
Besides the Thermometrical Observations published by the Royal Society, Barker also contributed Observations on a Voyage from Madras to England, 1774, and The Process of Making Ice in the East Indies to volume lxv., and an Account of an Observatory of the Brahmins at Benares to volume lxvii. of the Philosophical Transactions. [5]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Barker, Sir Robert (?1732–89), of Busbridge, Surr., History of Parliament Online". Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Sir Robert Barker at Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- ↑ Stephens 1885, p. 208.
- ↑ The Bengal almanac, for 1827, compiled by S. Smith and Co., Page XX
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Stephens 1885, p. 209.
- ↑ "Royal Society Fellows Details". The Royal Society. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
- ↑ "No. 12172". The London Gazette. 20 March 1781. p. 5.
Attribution
- Template:DNB; Endnotes:
- There is a very short, incomplete notice of Sir Robert Barker in Major Stubbs's History of the Royal Bengal Artillery, 2 volulemes, 1877
- consult also Malcolm's Life of Clive, Gleig's Life of Warren Hastings, and Mill's History of India
- for his services at Manilla see Draper's despatch in the Gentlemen's Magazine for 1763, and for Kettle's paintings at his seat the Gentlemen's Magazine for 1786.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Richard Smith |
Commander-in-Chief, India 1770–1773 |
Succeeded by Charles Chapman |
| Unrecognised parameter | ||
| Preceded by Sir John Aubrey, Bt John Cator |
Member of Parliament for Wallingford 1774–1780 With: John Cator |
Succeeded by Sir John Aubrey, Bt Chaloner Arcedeckne |
| Baronetage of Great Britain | ||
| New creation | Baronet (of Bushbridge) 1781–1789 |
Extinct |
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