Eric Barrington

Sir Bernard Eric Edward BarringtonKCB(5 June 1847 – 24 February 1918) was a British civil servant who was principal private secretary to three Foreign Secretaries.

Career

The Honourable Bernard Eric Edward Barrington, youngest son ofWilliam Barrington, 6th Viscount Barrington,was educated atEton Collegeand joined theForeign Office(FCO) in 1867. He wasPrivate Secretaryto twoParliamentary Under-Secretaries of State for Foreign Affairs,Arthur OtwayandViscount Enfield,1868–1874. In 1874 he became précis writer to theForeign Secretary,theEarl of Derby,and continued under Derby's successor,Lord Salisbury.He accompanied Salisbury to theCongress of Berlinin 1878 and was given thediplomatic rankof Second Secretary for the purpose.When Salisbury became Prime Minister for the first time in 1885, Barrington becamePrincipal Private Secretaryto the new Foreign Secretary,Lord Iddesleigh,1885–86. He was Principal Private Secretary to Lord Salisbury (in his role as Foreign Secretary) in 1886–92 and 1895–1900, and then to theMarquess of Lansdowne1900–05. WhenSir Edward Greysucceeded Lord Lansdowne as Foreign Secretary in December 1905 Barrington was appointedAssistant Under-Secretaryfor Africa, but retired in July 1907.

Save during the short period when he was attached to the special British Embassy that attended the Congress of Berlin in 1878, the whole career of Sir Eric Barrington was passed in the Foreign Office. He was a distinguished representative of the class of higher permanent officials who are the custodians of tradition and the wardens of continuity in the great Departments of State. The public at large knows little or nothing of their work. From time to time their names appear as the recipients of a C.B. or a K.C.B., but their contact with the world, outside the walls of their office, is limited and intermittent. Their names and qualities are, as a rule, far better known to foreign Governments and to foreign diplomatists than to their own fellow-countrymen. Their reward consists in the confidence of their chiefs and the esteem of their colleagues. Though they sometimes wield great influence, they have no direct responsibility, and the chief guarantee against any misuse of their powers lies in their own patriotism and conscientiousness.
—The Times,26 February 1918

Barrington was appointed Companion of theOrder of the Bath(CB) in the1889 Birthday Honours.He was promoted to a Knight Commander (KCB) in the order in the1902 Coronation Honourslist published on 26 June 1902,and received the knighthood in a private audience with KingEdward VIIon 2 August, during the King′s convalescence on boardHMYVictoria and Albert.

References

• BARRINGTON, Hon. Sir (Bernard) Eric (Edward),Who Was Who,A & C Black, 1920–2007; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007
• "Sir Eric Barrington". Obituary.The Times.No. 41723. London. 26 February 1918. p. 8.

External links

• Portraits of Sir (Bernard) Eric Edward Barringtonat theNational Portrait Gallery, London
• "Archival material relating to Barrington, Sir Bernard Eric Edward (1847-1918) Knight Diplomat".UK National Archives.