Frederick Eustace Barker

Who was Frederick Eustace Barker?

Frederick Eustace Barker, QC was a Canadian lawyer, judge and politician.

Born in Sheffield, New Brunswick, the son of Enoch Barker, Barker was educated at the Sunbury Grammar School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1856, a Master of Arts degree in 1858, and a Bachelor of Civil Law degree in 1866 from King's College. In 1861, he was called to the Bar and was created a Queen's Counsel in 1873. He practiced law in St. John, New Brunswick and was appointed a commissioner for consolidating the Statutes of New Brunswick in 1875. He was president of the St. John Bridge and Railway Extension Company and a director of the St. John Gas Company.

He also served in the Canadian Militia with the Saint-John Light Infantry and was gazetted an ensign and soon after a lieutenant in 1864. He was promoted to Captain in 1865 and major in 1868.

He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the electoral district of City of St. John in the 1885 by-election called after Sir Leonard Tilley was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick. A Conservative, he was defeated by John Valentine Ellis in the 1887 election.