Henry Barham facts for kids

Henry Barham (born around 1670, died 1726) was an English writer who studied natural history. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very old and respected group for scientists.

Henry Barham's Life Story

Henry Barham was born in England around 1670. He came from a family in Kent. Sometimes, people confuse him with his son, who was also named Henry Barham and became a doctor. His son later owned large sugar farms in Jamaica.

Henry Barham wrote about his own life in letters to Sir Hans Sloane, a famous collector and doctor.

Early Life and Career

Henry's father was a doctor and wanted him to go to university. However, his father died when Henry was about 14 years old. His mother remarried soon after, so Henry had to find his own way. He became an apprentice to a surgeon.

He later joined the navy as a surgeon's mate on a ship called the Vanguard. He was then promoted to master surgeon on another warship. His travels took him to Spain, then to Madras (in India), and finally to Jamaica. He likely settled in Jamaica around the late 1600s.

Life in Jamaica and Return to England

In Jamaica, Henry Barham built a successful medical practice. He was even appointed as the chief surgeon for the military forces there.

Around 1716, he moved back to England and lived in Chelsea. He became very interested in raising silkworms and making silk. He even wrote a book about it in 1719.

In 1717, Henry Barham became a member of the Royal Society. He also joined the Company of Surgeons. He hoped to become a fully qualified doctor (M.D.), but this did not happen.

Later Years and Death

In 1720, Henry Barham applied for a job as a mineral supervisor for a company in Jamaica. This company wanted to mine for silver. He said his own business was so good that he needed a high salary of £500 a year to take the job. He got the job on his terms.

However, the silver mining project, which he had helped start, failed completely. He was owed a year's salary, but he never received it. He continued to live in Jamaica until he passed away in May 1726 in Spanish Town. There is a special memorial for him in the cathedral in Spanish Town.

Henry Barham's Work as a Naturalist

After moving to Jamaica, Henry Barham said he "read many books, especially physical" ones. This means he studied a lot about nature and medicine. Even though his early education was not complete, he learned a lot about the plants and animals of Jamaica.

He was the one who brought Logwood to Jamaica in 1715. Logwood is a tree that is now very common there.

Published and Unpublished Works

Sir Hans Sloane, who was a big admirer of Henry Barham, used much of Barham's information in his own book, Natural History of Jamaica.

One of Henry Barham's important writings was Hortus Americanus, which he sent to Sloane in 1711. This book was later published in 1794. There was some confusion, and it was mistakenly thought to be written by his son. But letters show that Henry Barham the elder was definitely the author.

Henry Barham also wrote a History of Jamaica. After his death, his son sent it to Sir Hans Sloane to see if it could be printed. However, it was never published. The original handwritten copy, clearly marked as "wrote by Henry Barham, Senr. F.R.S.," is kept in the British Museum.

He also wrote two papers for the Royal Society:

• An Account of a Fiery Meteor seen in Jamaica to strike the Earth (about a meteor hitting the ground in Jamaica).
• Observations on the Produce of the Silkworm and of Silk in England, published in 1719 (about silkworms and silk production in England).

Dr. Henry Barham the Younger

Dr. Henry Barham (1692–1746) was the son of Henry Barham, F.R.S. He was also a doctor. He owned a large farm in Jamaica called Spring Plantation, which grew sugar. Many people worked on his farms. In 1728, he married a widow named Mary Heith. Through this marriage, he gained another large farm in Jamaica called Mesopotamia.

Expanding His Plantations

After taking over Mesopotamia, the younger Henry Barham borrowed money from merchants. He used this money to expand his sugar production, which meant he needed more workers for his farms. His farms in Westmoreland Parish did very well, and he earned a lot of money from selling sugar and rum in the 1730s.

However, he faced some sadness. In 1731, his sister Elizabeth died at Mesopotamia. Four years later, his wife Mary and her sister Sarah also passed away there. Because of these events, Henry Barham the younger moved to England in 1736.

Life in England and Inheritance

Between 1727 and 1736, the number of workers on his Mesopotamia farm tripled. When he moved to England, he left the farm in the care of his medical friend, Dr. James Paterson. Even though he lived in England, Henry Barham kept his connections to Jamaica.

In England, he married again. His second wife was Elizabeth Smith Foster Ayscough, who was also a wealthy widow from Jamaica. From her, he inherited five more Jamaican farms and a large number of workers, valued at about £34,000.

Henry Barham the younger did not have his own children. However, he had seven step-children from Elizabeth's previous marriages. He chose Elizabeth's son, Joseph, to be his main heir. Joseph had to change his name to Barham to inherit the Mesopotamia farm. Joseph agreed and became Joseph Foster Barham I.

In 1746, Henry Barham the younger died. Elizabeth managed the farm until 1750, when Joseph was old enough to take control of Mesopotamia. Henry Barham's personal wealth was valued at over £22,000 when he died.