Thomas Foster Barham (physician)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Foster Barham, M.B. (1794–1869) was an English physician
and classical scholar
.
. The younger Barham was born at Hendon
, in Middlesex
, 10 September 1794, and sent to Queens' College, Cambridge
, qualifying as M.B. in 1820. After taking this degree he returned to Penzance
in Cornwall
, where he was physician to the dispensary, and in general practice for several years. About 1830 he removed to Exeter
in Devon
and became physician to the Exeter dispensary and institution for the blind. From early life he had been attached to the doctrines of unitarianism
, and during the first part of his residence at Exeter actively supported the unitarian congregation which met at George's Chapel, Exeter. After a time he expressed an aversion to all dogmatic theology
, as well as to the adoption of any sectarian name, and embodied his views on these points in a pamphlet entitled Christian Union in Churches without Dogmatism. He moved to Newton Abbot
, where he conducted religious service for himself, adhering in the main to the religious tenets of his old sect. Being possessed of considerable means, he abandoned the practice of medicine on his removal from Exeter, and gave himself up to good works and the pleasures of literature. He died at Highweek
, near Newton Abbot, 3 March 1869, and was buried in Highweek churchyard 8 March.
, cultivation of waste lands and small farms — was entitled Philadelphia, or the Claims of Humanity (1858). The fame of his knowledge of the Greek language
was not confined to his own country; his mastery of Greek was shown in his Introduction to Greek Grammar, on a new plan, 1829; Greek Roots in English Rhymes, 1837; and The Enkheiridion of Hehfaistiown, with Prolegomena (highly commended in George Grote
's Greece, iv. 107) on Rhythm and Accent. A translation, in English hexameters, of the first book of the Iliad
was published after his death. He was a contributor to the Monthly Repository
from 1818, to the Transactions of the Cornish scientific societies, and to the Devonshire Association.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and classical scholar
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
.
Life
Barham was the eldest son of the musician and writer Thomas Foster BarhamThomas Foster Barham (musician)
-Life:Barham was the third son of Joseph Foster of Jamaica, who in 1750 took the name of Barham by authority of a private act of parliament, and in accordance with the will of Henry Barham. He was born in Bedford, 8 October 1766, and educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, where mariculated in...
. The younger Barham was born at Hendon
Hendon
Hendon is a London suburb situated northwest of Charing Cross.-History:Hendon was historically a civil parish in the county of Middlesex. The manor is described in Domesday , but the name, 'Hendun' meaning 'at the highest hill', is earlier...
, in Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, 10 September 1794, and sent to Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
, qualifying as M.B. in 1820. After taking this degree he returned to Penzance
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, where he was physician to the dispensary, and in general practice for several years. About 1830 he removed to Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and became physician to the Exeter dispensary and institution for the blind. From early life he had been attached to the doctrines of unitarianism
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
, and during the first part of his residence at Exeter actively supported the unitarian congregation which met at George's Chapel, Exeter. After a time he expressed an aversion to all dogmatic theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, as well as to the adoption of any sectarian name, and embodied his views on these points in a pamphlet entitled Christian Union in Churches without Dogmatism. He moved to Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot is a market town and civil parish in the Teignbridge District of Devon, England on the River Teign, with a population of 23,580....
, where he conducted religious service for himself, adhering in the main to the religious tenets of his old sect. Being possessed of considerable means, he abandoned the practice of medicine on his removal from Exeter, and gave himself up to good works and the pleasures of literature. He died at Highweek
Highweek
Highweek, less commonly called Highweek Village, is a former village, now administratively part of the market town of Newton Abbot in South Devon, England. It is prominent and recognisable due to its high location on a ridge on the north edge of the town...
, near Newton Abbot, 3 March 1869, and was buried in Highweek churchyard 8 March.
Works
Dr. Barham published many theological works, including A Monthly Course of Forms of Prayer for Domestic Worship and (with the Rev. Henry Acton) a volume of Forms of Prayer for Public Worship. His chief work, which dealt with many social questions — such as temperanceTemperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
, cultivation of waste lands and small farms — was entitled Philadelphia, or the Claims of Humanity (1858). The fame of his knowledge of the Greek language
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
was not confined to his own country; his mastery of Greek was shown in his Introduction to Greek Grammar, on a new plan, 1829; Greek Roots in English Rhymes, 1837; and The Enkheiridion of Hehfaistiown, with Prolegomena (highly commended in George Grote
George Grote
George Grote was an English classical historian, best known in the field for a major work, the voluminous History of Greece, still read.-Early life:He was born at Clay Hill near Beckenham in Kent...
's Greece, iv. 107) on Rhythm and Accent. A translation, in English hexameters, of the first book of the Iliad
Iliad
The Iliad is an epic poem in dactylic hexameters, traditionally attributed to Homer. Set during the Trojan War, the ten-year siege of the city of Troy by a coalition of Greek states, it tells of the battles and events during the weeks of a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles...
was published after his death. He was a contributor to the Monthly Repository
Monthly Repository
The Monthly Repository was a British monthly Unitarian periodical which ran between 1806 and 1838.The Monthly Repository was established when Robert Aspland bought William Vidler's Universal Theological Magazine and changed the name to the Monthly Repository of Theology and General Literature...
from 1818, to the Transactions of the Cornish scientific societies, and to the Devonshire Association.