Barrow Family Genealogy & History

Isaac Barrow (1630-1677) was a distinguished English theologian and mathematician, renowned for his contributions to the development of infinitesimal calculus, particularly the proof of the fundamental theorem of calculus. As the inaugural Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge, a position later held by Isaac Newton, Barrow made significant advancements in geometry and optics. His scholarly work includes a complete edition of Euclid's Elements and his famous Lectiones Mathematicae, which explored the metaphysical basis for mathematical truths. Barrow's intellectual prowess and dedication to mathematics and divinity were recognized during his lifetime, culminating in his appointment as Master of Trinity College.

Isaac Barrow was born in London, the son of Thomas Barrow, a linen draper, and Ann Buggin of North Cray, Kent. After Ann's death around 1634, Isaac was sent to live with his grandfather, Isaac, the Cambridgeshire J.P. Thomas Barrow remarried Katherine Oxinden, with whom he had at least two children, Elizabeth and Thomas. Isaac's family connections included an uncle, Isaac Barrow, who became Bishop of St Asaph, and support from a member of the Walpole family, which facilitated his education at Trinity College, Cambridge.

The West Kennet Long Barrow, also known as South Long Barrow, is a prominent Neolithic chambered long barrow located near Avebury, Wiltshire. Constructed in the thirty-seventh century BC, it is part of the Cotswold-Severn Group, a regional variant of barrows in Western Britain. This archaeological site, constructed by pastoralist communities, was used for collective burials and later became a focal point for rituals in the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age. It is now a scheduled monument under English Heritage and part of the "Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites" UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting numerous visitors annually.

Bowl barrow is a type of burial mound prominently found in Great Britain, dating back to the Neolithic through the Bronze Age. Known for its hemispherical shape resembling an upturned bowl, it covers inhumations or cremations. A barrow is a mound of earth or stone used to cover a tomb, and a bowl barrow can be identified by its structured or unstructured form, with variations like kerbed or ditchless designs. The term "cairn" is used when the mound is entirely of stone. John Thurnam, an English psychiatrist and archaeologist, first identified bowl barrows in Great Britain, contributing significantly to our understanding of ancient burial practices.

Augustus Irvine Barrow was a prominent Canadian chartered accountant and Senator, known for his significant contributions to the financial and political landscape of Nova Scotia. Born in Montreal in 1913, Barrow co-founded Barrow Nicoll & Company, an influential accounting firm in the Maritime provinces. He held esteemed positions, including President of the Nova Scotia Institute of Chartered Accountants and Director of the Bank of Canada. Appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1974, Barrow served as Chairman of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade, and Commerce until his retirement in 1988. Despite facing legal challenges in the 1980s, Barrow's career remains notable for his leadership and service.

Irvine Barrow was born to Hartley F. Barrow and Margaret E. (Irvine) in Montreal, Quebec. In 1918, the Barrow family relocated to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where Irvine's career and influence would later flourish. His parents' names suggest a blend of possibly Scottish or Irish heritage, typical of many Canadian families of the time.