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John Foster Barham

1799 – 1838

British Member of Parliament

Politician Plantation owner
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About John Foster Barham

Lived 1799 – 1838 (aged 39). John Foster Barham was a British politician and plantation owner.

John Foster Barham (1799 – 22 May 1838 ) was a British politician.

Barham was the eldest son of Joseph Foster Barham, Member of Parliament for Stockbridge.

At the 1820 UK general election, Barham was elected for the Whigs in Stockbridge, alongside his father. He seldom attended Parliament, and spent time running his father's Mesopotamia Estate in Jamaica, on which the family owned slaves.

Barham stood down from Parliament at the 1826 UK general election, as his father had fallen out with the seat's new patron. His father attempted to secure him a seat in Appleby, but this was unsuccessful. At the 1830 UK general election, he stood in Stockbridge again, this time in support of the Tories, but was defeated. He stood again in 1831, describing himself as a reformer, and winning the seat. In Parliament, he argued in favour of reducing the maximum period between general elections.

Barham inherited his father's estates in 1832, including the Mesopotamia Estate in Jamaica. At the 1832 UK general election, Stockbridge was disenfranchised, something which Barham opposed but did not vote against. He instead stood in Westmorland, but was not elected. In 1834/1835, he served as High Sheriff of Pembrokeshire.

Barham next stood in the 1834 Kendal by-election, which he won, and he held the seat at the 1835 UK general election. By 1836, he was in poor health, and in March 1837 he was certified as being of unsound mind, leading to him not standing in the 1837 UK general election. He died the following year.

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Important facts

Birth century
Education
Eton College, Christ Church
Positions held
High Sheriff of Pembrokeshire, Member of the 12th Parliament of the United Kingdom, Member of the 11th Parliament of the United Kingdom, Member of the 7th Parliament of the United Kingdom
Also known as
John Foster-Barham

People in John Foster Barham's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John Foster Barham's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John Foster Barham?

British Member of Parliament (1799-1838)

When was John Foster Barham born?

John Foster Barham was born on 16 January 1799.

When did John Foster Barham die?

John Foster Barham died on 22 May 1838.

What was John Foster Barham's occupation?

John Foster Barham was a politician and plantation owner.

What nationality was John Foster Barham?

John Foster Barham was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John Foster Barham

· Wikidata: Q24568609

· DBpedia: John Foster Barham

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Foster Barham. https://biography.guide/john-foster-barham/

MLA: "John Foster Barham." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-foster-barham/.

Chicago: "John Foster Barham." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-foster-barham/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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