Henry Ebenezer Barff
Henry Ebenezer Barff (9 July 1857 – 2 May 1925) was an Australian university administrator and mathematician.[1][2]
Early life and education
Born on Tahaa Island, Society Islands, Barff was the youngest son of Rev. John Barff, a missionary of the London Missionary Society, and Amelia Banes.[1][3] His family relocated to Sydney in 1865, and Barff was educated at Camden College before attending the University of Sydney, where he graduated with honours in mathematics.[4][5]
Career
Barff joined the University of Sydney in 1879 as an assistant examiner and acting lecturer in mathematics.[1][3] In 1882, he became registrar of the university and served until his retirement in 1924 as registrar and librarian.[4][5] From 1914, he also served as a university warden. During his tenure, the university grew from a single faculty with few students to ten faculties and over 3,000 students.[4] He was instrumental in the reorganization of the Sydney University Union and authored a historical account of the university published in 1902.[4]
In 1923, Barff was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (C.M.G.).[4]
Personal life
Barff married Jane Foss in 1899, an academic and advocate for women’s education.[4][6] Barff died of cerebrovascular disease in Sydney in 1925. His portrait by John Longstaff is held by the University of Sydney.[4]
Bibliography
A Short Historical Account of the University of Sydney (1902)[4]
References
- ^ a b c "OBITUARY". The Week. 15 May 1925.
- ^ "UNIVERSITY LOSS DEATH OF MR. HENRY BARFF". Northern Star. 4 May 1925.
- ^ a b "HIS ALMA MATER". Truth.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Cable, K. J. "Henry Ebenezer Barff (1857–1925)". Australian Dictionary of Biography.
- ^ a b "Barff, Henry Ebenezer". The Dictionary of Sydney.
- ^ "MRS. H. E. BARFF". The Sydney Morning Herald.