Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 03.djvu/263

 BARNES, THOMAS, D.D. (1747–1810), unitarian minister and educational reformer, son of William Barnes, of Warrington, came, it is believed, of the same stock as Bishop [q. v.] His mother was Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Blinston, of Wigan. He was born on 13 Feb. 1746–7. He lost his father when he was in his third year; but his mother gave him an admirable home-training. He received his elementary education at the grammar school of his native town under successive masters, named Owen and Holland (of Bolton), and later in the Warrington Academy, the unitarian training college, where he showed himself a brilliant student. He was subsequently licensed as a preacher of the gospel, and became minister of the congregation at Cockey Moor (Ainsworth, near Bolton) in 1768. He remained there for eleven years. When he left, the numbers in attendance had trebled. In 1780 he became the minister of Cross Street chapel at Manchester. It was at the time the largest, wealthiest, and most influential congregation of protestant dissenters in the town and district, and there he remained for thirty years until his death. In 1781, together with his learned friends, Dr. Percival and Mr. Henry, he founded the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester; became one of its two secretaries, and took a leading part, for several years, in its meetings and transactions. In 1783 he read a paper before the society, wherein he strenuously advocated the extension of liberal education in Manchester. He anticipated the higher grade schools of our time—that is, a provision for the instruction of youths of the town between their leaving a grammar school and entering into business. His plan was approved; a seminary, called ‘The College of Arts and Sciences,’ was established, and various men of special qualifications were placed on its staff of instructors. Barnes threw his whole strength into this scheme. He himself delivered a course of lectures on moral philosophy, and a second on commerce. The high hopes excited by the auspicious inauguration of the college were somewhat falsified latterly. The historian of Lancashire informs us that ‘except the honourable testimonies of approbation from able judges in every part of the kingdom, the virtuous labours of himself and his colleagues met with little reward’ ( and Lancashire, ii. 240). His essays, which were published in the early volumes of the Literary and Philosophical Society, and his distinctive services in the college, won for him in 1784 the honorary degree of doctor of divinity from the university of Edinburgh—a rare testimony then to a nonconformist. Shortly after, Dr. Barnes was induced, in association with his ministerial colleague, the Rev. Mr. Harrison, to undertake the government of Manchester College. He became its principal, and held the important and influential office for about twelve years. In 1798 he retired on account of failing strength. None the less did he continue to take a leading part in the local institutions of Manchester. The infirmary, the board of health, the house of recovery and fever wards divided his public-spirited attention. He died on 27 June 1810. Besides the occasional pieces noticed, Dr. Barnes published ‘A Funeral Sermon on the Death of the Rev. Thomas Threlkeld, of Rochdale,’ and was a contributor (anonymously) to contemporary periodicals. His ‘Discourse upon the Commencement of the Academy,’ published in 1786, was reprinted in 1806. Barnes, although usually designated a presbyterian, was a unitarian.



BARNES, THOMAS (1785–1841), editor of the ‘Times,’ was born about 1785, and received his early education at Christ's Hospital. He was there the schoolfellow of Leigh Hunt, who describes him as remarkable for his good looks, his attainments in Latin and English, and his love of bathing and boating. He proceeded to Pembroke College, Cambridge, and took his degree in 1808. Coming up to London, he became for a time a member of the literary circle to which Hunt, Lamb, and Hazlitt belonged, and connected himself with journalism. A series of sketches of leading members of parliament by him, which originally appeared in the ‘Examiner’ under the signature of ‘Criticus,’ was published under the same name in 1815. They are somewhat meagre in matter and juvenile in style, but full of pointed and incisive sentences; their habitual unfairness to the supporters of the administration is hardly a matter of surprise. Barnes was at the time an advanced liberal, but by 1817 had sufficiently moderated his views to assume a position independent of party by accepting the editorship of the ‘Times’ upon the retirement of Dr. Stoddart. He speedily approved himself the most able conductor the paper had up to that time had, and placed it beyond the reach of competition not more by the ability of his own articles than by the unity of tone and sentiment which he knew how to impart to the publication as a whole. This did not exclude rapid changes of political views. In 1831 the ‘Times’ was foremost