Baron, Richard, 1847-1907

Richard Baron was born on 8th September 1847 in Kendal. He was educated locally and then studied theology at Lancashire Independent College, later the Northern Congregational College. Following an appeal to students by the Rev William Ellis he volunteered to become a missionary in Madagascar with the London Missionary Society. Accepted by the Society he served in Madagascar for thirty-five years from 1872 until his death on 12th October 1907. He served in a number of country provinces in Imerina and Betsilio and was for a time Principal of the Theological College at Tananarive. He also wrote several Bible commentaries in Malagasy and was responsible for composing a number of very popular hymns in that language, including a translation of 'Rock of ages'. Baron was a prolific author in both English and Malagasy and, to a lesser extent, in French. Together with his fellow missionary in Madagascar James Sibree, he was founder-editor of the Antananarivo Annual: a record of information on the topography and natural productions of Madagascar and the customs, traditions, language and religious beliefs of its people which first appeared in 1875. During 1886 and 1887 the pair also produced, for private circulation only, Publications of the Malagasy Folk-lore Society.

While first and foremost a missionary Baron is perhaps better known as a man of science. He became a serious student of Madagascar's flora and during his missionary journeys in Madagascar collected and sent to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew around 7,000 plants of which 1,000 were new species. In 1882 he was made a Fellow of the Linnean Society. Baron was the author of a number of botanical works including a textbook in Malagasy and a catalogue: Compendium des plantes Malgaches. Baron also studied the geology of Madagascar, writing a number of books and articles on this subject in English and Malagasy. He also liaised in geological matters with the French authorities, following the French annexation of Madagascar as a colony in 1896. At the personal invitation of General Gallieni who held supreme military and political power in Madagascar, Baron took part in a geological and mining survey of the North and North West of Madagascar. Baron was also nominated one of the first members of the Acadmie Malgache which Gallieni instituted in 1902. He declined the offer of government service under the French administration preferring to remain a missionary.

In May 1907 Baron came on furlough to England, became ill with malarial fever and died very suddenly of heart failure at Morecambe on 12th October. He is buried at Kendal. Baron married four times. His first wife, Catherine Willey, and his second wife, Mary Selina Jenkinson, died shortly after their arrivals in Madagascar, in 1873 and in 1878 respectively. In 1882 Baron married Annie Pumphrey of the Society of Friend's mission in Madagascar but she died in 1898. In the following year Baron married Edith Condie. She retired from misisonary work in 1907, following her husband's death. Baron left four children.

From the guide to the Baron, Richard, ca. 1882-1908, (School of Oriental and African Studies)