Thomas Barker ( – 18 August 1785) was an English clergyman and

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

academic. Barker was born in

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancash ...

and matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford in 1745, at age 17. He graduated

B.A. Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four yea ...

in 1749,

M.A. A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...

in 1751, B.D. & D.D. in 1778. Becoming a Fellow of Brasenose in 1750, Barker was a member of the Red Herring dining club, which had Jacobite associations and ceased meeting in 1761, at the end of its existence. Barker was elected Principal of Brasenose on 14 September 1777. He died in

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...

on 18 August 1785, and was buried there. He was succeeded after his death by

William Cleaver William Cleaver (1742–1815) was an English churchman and academic, Principal of Brasenose College, Oxford, and bishop of three sees. Life He was the eldest son of the Rev. William Cleaver, who wa ...

. During Barker's time, Brasenose was the butt of satirical humour in Hannah Cowley's 1779 play ''Who's the Dupe?'', for pedantry, provincial manners and unfashionable dress, in the character Gradus.

Notes

18th-century English clergy Alumni of Brasenose College, Oxford Principals of Brasenose College, Oxford People from Lancashire (before 1974) 1785 deaths Year of birth uncertain {{UOxford-stub