  sir john barrow, 1st baronet, frs, frgs (19 june 1764 &ndash; 23 november 1848) was an english statesman and writer. ==career== barrow was born the son of roger barrow in the village of dragley beck, in the parish of ulverston, then in lancashire, now in cumbria. he started in life as superintending clerk of an iron foundry at liverpool and afterwards, in his twenties, taught mathematics at a private school in greenwich. through the interest of sir george leonard staunton, whose son he taught mathematics, he was attached on the first british embassy to china from 1792â94 as comptroller of the household to lord macartney. he soon acquired a good knowledge of the chinese language, on which he subsequently contributed interesting articles to the quarterly review; and the account of the embassy published by sir george staunton records many of barrow's valuable contributions to literature and science connected with china. although barrow ceased to be officially connected with chinese affairs after the return of the embassy in 1794, he always took much interest in them, and on critical occasions was frequently consulted by the british government. thumb|left|sir john barrow, 1st bt, by john jackson thumb|right|the castle at cape town in about 1800, painted by john barrow in 1797 he accompanied lord macartney, as private secretary, in his important and delicate mission to settle the government of the newly acquired colony of the cape of good hope. barrow was entrusted with the task of reconciling the boer settlers and the native black population and of reporting on the country in the interior. on his return from his journey, in the course of which he visited all parts of the colony, he was appointed auditor-general of public accounts. he now decided to settle in south africa, married, and in 1800 bought a house in cape town. however the surrender of the colony at the peace of amiens (1802) upset this plan. barrow returned to england in 1804 and was appointed second secretary to the admiralty by [
1764_births 1848_deaths Baronets_in_the_Baronetage_of_the_United_Kingdom Botanists_with_author_abbreviations Fellows_of_the_Royal_Geographical_Society Fellows_of_the_Royal_Society People_from_Ulverston Presidents_of_the_Royal_Geographical_Society