Who was Francis Barber?

The above portrait is by Sir Joshua Reynolds and the sitter could
possibly be Francis, but we do not know for sure. 

© Menil Collection, Houston, Texas

Who was Francis Barber?

Born into slavery in Jamaica in about 1742, he was called Quashey and later given the name Francis Barber. His enslaver was Colonel Bathurst who sold his plantation and brought Barber back to London as a young boy. Later, aged 10 he was sent to live with Dr Samuel Johnson, the 18th-century lexicographer, poet, critic, editor, and writer. His wife had recently died and he saw Barber as a companion, and surrogate son. Johnson was an opponent of slavery and the boy was given an education and worked as a paid domestic servant. He regarded Johnson as his father figure and felt he was a member of his household family. 

Barber also worked as an apothecary’s assistant and later he joined the Royal Navy. He then returned to Johnson’s household and continued with his education. In 1776 he married Elizabeth Ball and they moved into Johnson’s house, where they lived until the lexicographer died. In his will he left Barber money and personal items. When the money began to run out the couple and their children moved to Lichfield, Johnson’s home city. He made good use of his old friend’s connections, but he was forced to sell some of the possessions that he had inherited. Barber set up a school near Lichfield which was sadly unsuccessful, and the family struggled to make money. 

On 13th January 1801, aged 57/58 Francis Barber passed away. We do not know the illness that Barber suffered from at the end of his life. We do know that he had an operation which was unsuccessful and a month later he died. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Mary's Church, Stafford, on 28 January. The record of burials for that date includes "Francis Barber from the Infirmary." When Francis died, his wife was forced to sell more of their treasured possessions, she died in 1816.

St. Mary's Church, Stafford, where Barber was buried. Photo taken by me.

* I highly recommend that you read The Fortunes of Francis Barber by Michael Bundock, the book I have referenced for this post.