Barrow Sir John Bart

Barrow, Sir John, Bart., born near Ulverstone in 1764, spent his early days as a clerk, but showing a turn for mathematics, got employment as a teacher, and presently was sent out in the suite of the first British Ambassador to China. His abilities were appreciated, and on coming home, in 1794, Lord Macartney took him to the Cape, where he exerted himself with great success among the Kaffres, recording his experiences in a valuable book. Lord Melville next appointed him second Secretary of the Admiralty, and for 40 years he held this post to the entire satisfaction of successive administrators, among whom was William IV., then Duke of Clarence. He was elected fellow of the Royal Society, and received a baronetcy in 1835. Retiring from office in 1845, he spent three years in compiling a history of recent Arctic explorations and in writing his autobiography. He died in 1848. Among his works were Lives of Macartney, Anson, Howe, and Peter the Great, besides many contributions to the Encyclopaedia Britannica and the Quarterly Review.