George Digby Barker
Encyclopedia
General
Sir George Digby Barker GCB (Chinese Translated Name: 白加) (1833 – 15 April 1914) was a British
soldier and colonial administrator.
in 1853. He served in Anglo-Persian War
of 1856 and in the Indian Mutiny
of 1857 and was present at Siege of Lucknow
.
He went on to become Adjutant
of his Regiment in 1859. He was then made Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster-General in 1884. Then in 1874 he was made a Professor at the Staff College and in 1877 Assistant Director of Military Education at Headquarters.
He became Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong
in 1890. He was briefly the acting administrator of Hong Kong between May and December 1891. Barker Road, where the Mansion of the Chief Secretary is located, on The Peak
was named after him.
He was then appointed Governor of Bermuda
in 1896 and retired in 1902.
He was also Colonel
of the Seaforth Highlanders
.
In retirement he lived at Clare Priory
in Suffolk
.
General (United Kingdom)
General is currently the highest peace-time rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It is subordinate to the Army rank of Field Marshal, has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank....
Sir George Digby Barker GCB (Chinese Translated Name: 白加) (1833 – 15 April 1914) was a British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
soldier and colonial administrator.
Military career
Barker was commissioned into the 78th Regiment of Foot78th Regiment of Foot
The 78th Regiment of Foot was a Highland Infantry Regiment of the Line raised in late 18th Century Scotland for service against the French during the Napoleonic Wars.- History :The original 78th Foot was raised by the Earl of Seaforth in 1778...
in 1853. He served in Anglo-Persian War
Anglo-Persian War
The Anglo-Persian War lasted between November 1, 1856 and April 4, 1857, and was fought between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Persia . In the war, the British opposed an attempt by Persia to reacquire the city of Herat...
of 1856 and in the Indian Mutiny
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
of 1857 and was present at Siege of Lucknow
Siege of Lucknow
The Siege of Lucknow was the prolonged defense of the Residency within the city of Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. After two successive relief attempts had reached the city, the defenders and civilians were evacuated from the Residency, which was abandoned.Lucknow was the capital of...
.
He went on to become Adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
of his Regiment in 1859. He was then made Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster-General in 1884. Then in 1874 he was made a Professor at the Staff College and in 1877 Assistant Director of Military Education at Headquarters.
He became Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong
Commander British Forces in Hong Kong
The Commander British Forces in Hong Kong was a senior British Army officer who acted as Military Advisor to the Governor of Hong Kong.-Structure:...
in 1890. He was briefly the acting administrator of Hong Kong between May and December 1891. Barker Road, where the Mansion of the Chief Secretary is located, on The Peak
Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak is a mountain in Hong Kong. It is also known as Mount Austin, and locally as The Peak. The mountain is located in the western half of Hong Kong Island...
was named after him.
He was then appointed Governor of Bermuda
Governor of Bermuda
The Governor of Bermuda is the representative of the British monarch in the British overseas territory of Bermuda. The Governor is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the British government...
in 1896 and retired in 1902.
He was also Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the Seaforth Highlanders
Seaforth Highlanders
The Seaforth Highlanders was a historic regiment of the British Army associated with large areas of the northern Highlands of Scotland. The Seaforth Highlanders have varied in size from two battalions to seventeen battalions during the Great War...
.
In retirement he lived at Clare Priory
Clare Priory
Clare Priory is a modern English house of the Augustinian order, established 1248 near Clare Castle on the banks of the River Stour in Suffolk. It was one of the first English monastic houses suppressed in 1538 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, but the Irish Augustinian Friars purchased...
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
.