George Anthony Barber

George Anthony Barber (1802 – 20 October 1874) was an English-born educator, auditor, and sportsman who emigrated to Canada, where he became the first superintendent of Toronto's public school system and became known as the father of Canadian cricket.

Barber was born in 1802 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England and emigrated to Canada in 1826. Upon his arrival, he taught at the Home District grammar school in York and married Lucinda Shortiss. After teaching in for three years, he joined the Upper Canada College staff when it first opened in 1829. In his duties as collector, he was involved in a financial scandal in 1839 that forced him to put up £1,500 to cover shortfalls in the college accounts, and was forced to resign from the college as a result. The scandal, details of which are hazy, also involved Bishop John Strachan, Allan MacNab and Colonel Joseph Wells.

Barber is buried in St. James Cemetery in Toronto.