Sir Robert Barker, 1st Baronet

Sir Robert Barker, Bt
Born	1732
Died	14 September 1789
Allegiance	Kingdom of Great Britain
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Brigadier-General
Commands held	Indian Army
Battles/wars	Seven Years' War

Brigadier-General Sir Robert Barker, 1st Baronet, FRS (1732 – 14 September 1789) was a British soldier. He served as Commander-in-Chief, India between 1770 and 1773.

Barker went to India in 1749 and in 1757, during the Seven Years' War, commanded the artillery at the Capture of Chandannagar and at the Battle of Plassey. In 1762 he went on an expedition to Manila in the Philippines. He was knighted on 16 January 1764.

Two years later he returned to India to protect the Nawab wazir of Oudh Shuja-ud-Daula. In 1769 he became Commander-in-Chief, India he became likewise provincial commander-in-chief in Bengal to the great disgust of Sir Richard Fletcher.

However he exceeded his authority by committing the East India Company to guaranteeing a treaty and by confronting a possible Maratha Empire invasion. He resigned in 1773: Colonel Champion, who succeeded him, had to conduct the first Rohilla war.

Barker returned to England becoming Member of Parliament for Wallingford in 1774. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1775. In 1781 he was created a baronet, of Bushbridge in the County of Surrey. Barker's ability as an officer won him the friendship and esteem of Clive.

...
Wikipedia