Edmund Henry Barker

Barker was a prolific writer on classical and other subjects, but it is as a lexicographer that he is now mainly 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 publicly stated, it was understood that Barker was the responsible editor. When a few parts had appeared, it was criticized in the Quarterly Review (xxii., 1820) by Edward Valentine Blomfield; the original plan of the work was then curtailed, and Barker's name was not used. It was completed in twelve volumes (1816–1828). The strictures of the Quarterly were answered by Barker in his Aristarchus Anti-Blomfieldianus, answered by James Henry Monk.^[2]

Barker produced a new edition (1829) of the Thesaurus Ellipsium Latinarum of Elias Palairet. With George Dunbar he wrote a Greek and English Lexicon.^[3] He also saw through the press the English edition of John Lemprière's Classical Dictionary (revised by Charles Anthon) and of Webster's English Dictionary.^[2]

The editio princeps (1820) of Περὶ τόνων, the treatise on prosody sometimes attributed to Arcadius of Antioch, was published by Barker from a Paris manuscript. He also published notes on the Etymologicum Gudianum. In addition to contributing to the Classical Journal, he edited portions of classical authors for the use of schools, and was one of the first commentators to write notes in English instead of Latin.^[2]

Continental scholars had a more favourable opinion of Barker than the British did. He expressed contempt for the close-reading verbal criticism in Richard Porson's style.^[2]

In a volume of letters Barker disputed the claims made that Sir Philip Francis was the author of the Letters of Junius (see identity of Junius). His Parriana (1828), based around Samuel Parr, was a vast compilation of literary anecdotes and criticisms.^[2]

• "Barker, Edmund Henry (BRKR805EH)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
• Finding aid to Edmund Henry Barker letters at Columbia University. Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: 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.