Sir Harry Gilbert Barling, 1st Baronet (30 April 1855 – 27 April 1940) was an
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
surgeon.
Barling was born at
Newnham on Severn
Newnham or Newnham on Severn is a village in west Gloucestershire, England. It lies in the Royal Forest of Dean, on the west bank of the River Severn, approximately 10 miles south-west of Gloucester and three miles southeast of Cinderford. It is ...
,
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire ( abbreviated Glos) is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn and the entire Forest of Dean.
The county town is the city of Gl ...
and educated at a boarding school at
Weston, near Bath. He went to
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...
in 1875 at the age of 20, to take his matriculation exam at
Queen's College, Birmingham
Queen's College was a medical school in central Birmingham, England, and a predecessor college of the University of Birmingham. It was founded by surgeon William Sands Cox in 1825 as The Birmingham Medical School, a residential college for medi ...
(a predecessor college of
Birmingham University
, mottoeng = Through efforts to heights
, established = 1825 – Birmingham School of Medicine and Surgery1836 – Birmingham Royal School of Medicine and Surgery1843 – Queen's College1875 – Mason Science College1898 – Mason Univers ...
), before going on to study at
St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital, commonly known as Barts, is a teaching hospital located in the City of London. It was founded in 1123 and is currently run by Barts Health NHS Trust.
History
Early history
Barts was founded in 1123 by Rahere (die ...
in London and culminating in his admittance to the
Royal College of Surgeons
The Royal College of Surgeons is an ancient college (a form of corporation) established in England to regulate the activity of surgeons. Derivative organisations survive in many present and former members of the Commonwealth. These organisations a ...
in 1879, becoming a Fellow in 1881. It was at this time he was appointed resident pathologist at the General Hospital which would start an association lasting for 60 years. He became President of the hospital in 1925. He was awarded his M.B. degree in 1879 at St Bartholomew's, and his B.S. degree in 1883 at St Bartholomew's and Birmingham.
![Mason Science College](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Mason_Science_College.png)
In 1904, Barling was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham (informally Birmingham University) is a Public university, public research university located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen's College, Birmingha ...
, succeeding Sir
Bertram Windle
Sir Bertram Coghill Alan Windle, (8 May 1858 – 14 February 1929) was a British anatomist, administrator, archaeologist, scientist, educationalist and writer.
Biography
He was born at Mayfield Vicarage, in Staffordshire, where his father, ...
, who was appointed president of Queen's College, Cork. From 1913 to 1933 he held the office of Vice Chancellor (renamed Pro-Chancellor in 1927) of the University of Birmingham, during which time and under his guidance the research departments in mental diseases and cancer were founded. He was Vice President and Chairman of the Council of
The Birmingham Civic Society
Birmingham Civic Society is a voluntary body in Birmingham, England, and is registered with the Civic Trust.
History
The society was founded at an inaugural meeting on 10 June 1918 in the Birmingham Council House. The first president of the ...
for 22 years from its creation in 1918 until his death in 1940. He was also for many years the Chairman of the
Birmingham Hospital Saturday Fund. His association with the university had begun in 1885 when he was appointed Demonstrator of Anatomy at Queen's College and he was for many years on the teaching staff of the Medical School, becoming Professor of Pathology in 1885. In 1893 he was appointed co-professor of Surgery at
Mason College
Mason Science College was a university college in Birmingham, England, and a predecessor college of Birmingham University. Founded in 1875 by industrialist and philanthropist Sir Josiah Mason, the college was incorporated into the University ...
(into which the medical faculty of Queen's College had merged and which later became
Birmingham University
, mottoeng = Through efforts to heights
, established = 1825 – Birmingham School of Medicine and Surgery1836 – Birmingham Royal School of Medicine and Surgery1843 – Queen's College1875 – Mason Science College1898 – Mason Univers ...
) and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.
At the outbreak of the First World War he was 59 and placed his services at the disposal of the
Royal Army Medical Corps, acting as consulting surgeon in the Southern Command, subsequently being posted at the rank of
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...
to the
Western Front from October 1916 to August 1917. His service to King and Countrymen earned him the
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) (military) in 1917 and in 1919 he was made a
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...
(CBE). On 10 September 1919
King George V
George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936.
Born during the reign of his grandmother Qu ...
conferred upon him a
Baronet
A baronet ( or ; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (, , or ; abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14t ...
cy
and the
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the British Sovere ...
granted his
Coat of Arms
A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...
some three months later.
![Gilbert Barling Blue Plaque unveiling - 2018-02-16 - Andy Mabbett - 38](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Gilbert_Barling_Blue_Plaque_unveiling_-_2018-02-16_-_Andy_Mabbett_-_38.jpg)
In 1923 he had been involved in the setting up of the Birmingham Branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign (now
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK (CRUK) is the world's largest independent cancer research organization. It is registered as a charity in the United Kingdom and Isle of Man, and was formed on 4 February 2002 by the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and t ...
) and became its first Chairman. He was a hard worker and talented administrator and in 1936, in recognition of his hospital, university and other public service, he was presented with The Birmingham Civic Society's Gold Medal (a rare accolade given to those who have made a high contribution to life in Birmingham).
Sir Gilbert chaired his last meeting of the Civic Society's Executive Council on 19 March 1940 and he died from heart failure at his home (whilst in his garden) at 6 Manor Road,
Edgbaston
Edgbaston () is an affluent suburban area of central Birmingham, England, historically in Warwickshire, and curved around the southwest of the city centre.
In the 19th century, the area was under the control of the Gough-Calthorpe family a ...
on Saturday 27 April 1940, just three days before his 85th birthday. At the next meeting of the Society's Executive Council, Mr Oliver Moreland temporarily assumed the Chair and it was agreed to send a letter of sympathy to Miss Edith Barling, one of his two daughters, who also sat on the Executive Council.
The funeral took place at
St Augustine's Church, Edgbaston
The Church of St Augustine of Hippo in Lyttelton Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, England, is a parish church in the Church of England.
Background
St Augustine's Church stands at the centre of a conservation area which bears its name. It is one ...
on Wednesday 1 May 1940. The Birmingham Mail reported that the eloquent testimony to the esteem in which Sir Gilbert was held was manifested at the funeral, which the Lord Mayor also attended. He had sat on the Church Council of this church for some years and often took sermons at the invitation of the vicar, indeed between 1868 and 1978 the vicarage of
St Augustine's Church, Edgbaston
The Church of St Augustine of Hippo in Lyttelton Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, England, is a parish church in the Church of England.
Background
St Augustine's Church stands at the centre of a conservation area which bears its name. It is one ...
was next door, at 4 Manor Road and is where his neighbour
Dr Rosslyn Bruce lived between 1912 and 1923.
![Gilbert Barling Blue Plaque - 2018-02-16 - Andy Mabbett - 01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Gilbert_Barling_Blue_Plaque_-_2018-02-16_-_Andy_Mabbett_-_01.jpg)
On 16 February 2018, The Birmingham Civic Society erected a
Blue Plaque in his honour, on his former home at 6, Manor Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham.
The papers of Gilbert Barling and also a collection of material relating to Barling, compiled by his daughter, Edith are housed at the University of Birmingham Special Collections.
References
Sources
* L. G. Parsons (2004) ‘Barling, Sir (Harry) Gilbert, baronet (1855–1940)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press
* The Birmingham Civic Society Annual Reports 1919–1940
* Minute Book of The Birmingham Civic Society 1940
* 50th Anniversary booklet of St Augustine's Church, Edgbaston published by The Reverend Dr Rosslyn Bruce 1918
* University of Birmingham archives
* St Augustine's Church Parish Magazine 1923.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barling, Gilbert
1855 births
1940 deaths
People from Newnham on Severn
Alumni of University of London Worldwide
Alumni of the University of London
Academics of the University of Birmingham
Alumni of the University of Birmingham
20th-century English medical doctors
Companions of the Order of the Bath
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons
Baronets in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom
Royal Army Medical Corps officers
Alumni of the Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital
British Army personnel of World War I