George Barker (benefactor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Barker
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| Born | 1776 |
| Died | 6 December 1845 |
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| Known for | Founding the Birmingham Philosophical Society |
George Barker (1776–1845) was an important person in Birmingham, England. He worked as a lawyer, helping people with legal matters. He also gave a lot of money and time to help his community.
George Barker was a street commissioner, which meant he helped manage the city's streets. He was also a governor at King Edward's School. He cared a lot about his city and its people.
He spent much of his time on science and helping others. He worked hard to improve the General Hospital. He was a main organizer and chairman for the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival. This festival raised money for the hospital. He had to retire in 1843 due to poor health.
George Barker also started the Birmingham Philosophical Institution. He gave talks on chemistry, which helped local factories. He was good friends with famous inventors James Watt and Matthew Boulton. He also helped get a special law passed for the London and Birmingham Railway. In 1839, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society for his scientific work. He passed away on December 6, 1845, at his home in Birmingham.
George Barker's Love for Plants
George Barker was a very skilled and enthusiastic botanist. This means he loved studying plants. He even discovered and named new plant species.
Here are some of the plant species he named:
- Epidendrum blepharistes
- Oncidium incurvum
A Special Statue for George Barker
In 1844, people wanted to thank George Barker for all his hard work. They raised £560 to buy him a gift of silverware. They also paid for a marble statue, called a bust, made by the artist Peter Hollins.
This bust was shown at the Birmingham Society of Artists in 1844. A writer from The Art Journal saw it and was very impressed. They wrote that the bust was "quiet and classic" and showed George Barker's calm nature. The writer felt the artist made the bust with great skill and grace.
The bust was first placed in the General Hospital. Later, it was with a law firm that George Barker had worked with. Today, the bust is owned by a private collector.
