Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Barrow, John (fl.1756)
BARROW, JOHN (fl. 1756), geographical compiler, died at the end of last century. His first work was a geographical dictionary, which was published in London anonymously, as was also (in 1756) the first edition of his principal work, ‘A Chronological Abridgment or History of the Discoveries made by Europeans in the different parts of the world.’ The second edition of the latter compilation appeared in 1765, and was so successful that in the year following a French translation, by Targe, was published at Paris, in twelve volumes. In his introduction Barrow shows a considerable acquaintance with astronomical geography, so far as relates to the finding of latitude and longitude by the stars. The French translation seems to have had more repute than the original work, but even in France Barrow's ‘History of Discoveries’ was in a few years superseded by that of the Abbé Prévost. The voyages selected by Barrow are those of Columbus, V. de Gama, Cabral, Sir F. Drake, Sir W. Raleigh, Sir T. Cavendish, Van Noort, Spelbergen, Tasman, Dampier, Wafer, Rogers, Ulloa, Lord Anson, Ellis, and others.
[Barrow's Works.]