Heinrich Alfred Barb (1 January 1826 – 2 June 1883) was a Galician academic, university director, civil servant, interpreter and author who received recognition both from his native
Austro - Hungary and overseas for his contribution to the Arts and Sciences, and in particular towards the study of Persian and oriental languages. He was the director of what is now the
Diplomatic Academy of Vienna
The Diplomatic Academy of Vienna (DA; German: ''Diplomatische Akademie Wien''), also known as the Vienna School of International Studies, is a postgraduate professional school based in Vienna, Austria, with focused training for students and prof ...
(at that time still the Oriental Academy). Born Jewish, he formally left the Jewish faith on 1 February 1884 while in his first year of law at the
University of Vienna and rose in the civil service to the rank of ''Hofrat'', a distinction rarely accorded to those of Jewish ancestry.
Family and Education
The son of Josef Barb, the town medical officer, and Rosalia Hiller, Barb was born in
Mostyska, one of three brothers. His cousin was
Isaac Barb, notable for his role in the
revival of the Hebrew language during the mid-19th century. Barb's renunciation of the Jewish faith caused an irrevocable break with his family. He never married.
Honours and awards
* Knight of the
Order of the Iron Crown III Class
* Golden Civil Service Cross with Crown
* Austrian Golden Medal for the Arts and Sciences
* The
*
Order of Glory (Ottoman Empire)
*
Order of the Lion and the Sun
*
Order of the Medjidie III Class
References
*Anna Staudacher, ''Jüdische Konvertiten in Wien 1782-1868''. Peter Lang: Frankfurt a. M. 2002
*"Death Notice" Wiener Sonn- und Montags-Zeitung, 3 June 1883 page 3
*H. Slaby, ''Bindenschild und Sonnenlöwe: Die Geschichte der österreichisch-iranischen Beziehungen bis zur Gegenwart'', Graz, 1982.
Polak Jacob Eduard at Iranica.comaccessed 2 February 2016
*"75 Jahre Orientalisches Institut der Universität Wien" Österreichische Hochschulzeitung, 15 October 1961
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barb, Heinrich Alfred
1826 births
1883 deaths
Austrian Jews
Austrian politicians
People from Mostyska