Wharton Barker

Who was Wharton Barker?

Wharton Barker was an American financier and publicist, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1866, but prior to this time had organized and commanded a company in the Civil War. As a member of the banking firm of Barker Bros. & Co., he was appointed special financial agent of the Russian government. In this capacity he was entrusted with the building of four cruisers and was called to Russia to advise in the development of coal and iron mines. He also obtained valuable railroad, telegraph, and telephone concessions from China. As early as 1869 he founded the Penn Monthly, a weekly devoted to political, economic, and social questions, which in 1880-1900 was published under the name The American.

In the field of politics, Mr. Barker became known as the proposer for the presidency of the names of Garfield and Harrison, and as one of the chief opponents of a third term for Grant. Having left the Republican Party in 1896 to join the Populists, he showed himself so zealous that he was made their candidate for the presidency in 1900 four years prior to the candidacy of Thomas E. Watson. He became a member of several learned societies. Barker died at age 74.