Barcroft Boake (educator) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barcroft Boake
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| Born | 1814 Dublin, Ireland
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| Died | 9 September 1876 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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| Nationality | British |
| Education | Trinity College Dublin |
| Occupation | Educator and clergyman |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Catherine Slade (m.1843), Agnes Jane March (m.1861) |
| Parent(s) | John Fuller Boake (father), Mary née Lodge (mother) |
Dr Barcroft Boake (1814 - 9 September 1876) was an Irish clergyman and educator. He is best known for being the longest-serving principal of Royal College Colombo in Sri Lanka. He led the school from 1842 to 1870.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Barcroft Boake was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1814. His father, John Fuller Boake, was a brick merchant.
When he was 14 years old, in 1828, he began studying at Trinity College Dublin. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1836. Later, he continued his studies and received a Master of Arts, a Bachelor of Divinity, and a Doctorate of Divinity.
Becoming a Clergyman
After his studies, Boake became a clergyman. He was ordained as a deacon in 1838. The next year, in 1839, he became a priest.
Leading the Colombo Academy
In 1841, a group called the Church Missionary Society wanted to start a new school in India. They offered Boake the job of headmaster. However, this plan did not work out.
Instead, the Society suggested to the government that Boake become the principal of the Colombo Academy. This was a government school in British Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Boake accepted the offer and traveled to Ceylon in September 1842.
His Time as Principal
In October 1842, Boake officially started his role as principal of the Colombo Academy. He stayed in this important position for a very long time, until September 1870.
During his time, he helped improve education in Ceylon. In 1859, he played a part in creating Queen's College. This was the first higher education institution in Ceylon. Queen's College helped students from Colombo Academy get ready for university exams in England.
In 1869, Queen's College joined with the Colombo Academy. This change helped create a stronger educational system.
Starting a Boarding School
In 1868, Boake also started a hostel at the Colombo Academy. This made it one of the first boarding schools in Ceylon. Students could live at the school while they studied.
Family Life
Besides his work in education, Boake also served as a colonial chaplain. He was also the rector of Trinity Church in Colombo.
He married Mary Catherine Slade in 1843. They had eight children together. Sadly, Mary Catherine passed away in 1860.
Boake married a second time in 1861 to Agnes Jane Marsh. She was the daughter of Reverend Joseph Marsh, who was the first headmaster of the Colombo Academy. Barcroft and Agnes had five more children.
Writings and Later Life
Boake wrote several important papers that were published in newspapers in 1853 and 1854. He also had a sermon published in 1857. This sermon was given at Trinity Church, Colombo.
After he retired in 1870, Boake and his family moved to Melbourne, Australia. There, he worked as a pastor at the Holy Trinity Church in Saint Kilda.
Barcroft Boake passed away in Melbourne, Australia, on September 9, 1876.
