People, Locations, Episodes

Tue, 11.29.1735

Francis Barber, Businessman, and Educator born

This date celebrates the birth of Francis Barber, a Black slave who became a Black British businessman and educator in 1735.

Barber was born on a plantation in Jamaica and brought to England by his owner in 1750. After brief schooling at a village school in Yorkshire, he entered the service of his owner's son. Later, Samuel Johnson hired him out after his wife died in 1752. An English author, Johnson has been described as "arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history."

Barber worked as Johnson's valet for six years until he escaped to sea. He served on the HMS Stag in the North Sea for the next two years. On his return in 1760, he rejoined Johnson's staff. He worked as Johnson's butler, but in 1762, after attending Bishop's Stortford Grammar School for five years, he worked as his secretary.

Barber married an Englishwoman and had four children. He and his family lived in Samuel Johnson's house. When Johnson died in 1784, he left Barber a gold watch and an annual payment of 70 pounds. Barber moved to Lichfield, Staffordshire, and later became a schoolteacher in Burntwood.

Francis Barber died in 1801. His son, also named Samuel Barber, became a Primitive Methodist preacher in Staffordshire.