John Penrose Barron,FSA, MAE (27 April 1934 – 16 August 2008) was a British classical scholar. He was Director of theInstitute of Classical Studies,University of London from 1984 to 1991, andMaster ofSt Peter's College, Oxford, from 1991 to 2003.^[1][2]

Barron was born on 27 April 1934 inMorley, Yorkshire, England.^[3] He was educated atQueen Elizabeth Grammar School, an all-boysprivate school inWakefield, and atClifton College, then also an all-boys independent school inBristol.^[4][5] Hematriculated intoBalliol College, Oxford, in 1953; he had originally intended to study law but was convinced by a college tutor to switch toLit. Hum. (Classics).^[3] Among histutors wereKenneth Dover andRussell Meiggs.^[4] He graduated from theUniversity of Oxford with afirst classBachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1957.^[5] He remained at Oxford to study for aDoctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree under thesupervision ofAntony Andrewes,^[6] which he completed in 1961.^[3][5] Hisdoctoral thesis was on the early history ofSamos, and was titledThe history of Samos to 439 B. C..^[3][5][6]

Barron began his academic career in 1959, having been appointed an assistant lecturer in Latin atBedford College, London: he was promoted to lecturer in 1961.^[2] In 1964, he joinedUniversity College, London as a lecturer in archaeology.^[7] He was appointedReader in Archaeology andNumismatics in 1967.^[2]

In 1971, he was appointedProfessor of Greek Language and Literature atKing's College, London:^[2] he was therefore appointed to a chair at the unusually young age of 37.^[7] He was Head of theKing's Department of Classics from 1972 to 1984, andDean of itsFaculty of Arts from 1976 to 1980.^[1] He then moved into leadership positions in the widerUniversity of London, serving as Director of theInstitute of Classical Studies from 1984 to 1991, and Dean of the Institute for Advanced Study from 1989 to 1991.^[2] He was "instrumental in setting up the University of London Institute for Advanced Study", a body which brought together the various research institutes of the university: it would go on to become theSchool of Advanced Study.^[1]

In 1991, Barron was elected the7th Master ofSt Peter's College, Oxford.^[5] He would go on to serve two five-year terms and a two-year extension, before retiring in 2003.^[2][7] During his time as master, he increased the number of female students at his college from fewer than 30 percent to almost half.^[8] He also greatly expanded the physical footprint of the college, adding three new buildings.^[5] He also attempted to add the formerOxford Prison to the portfolio but this was vetoed by the college's governing body.^[9] He was also Chairman of the Conference of Colleges, the association ofOxford Colleges, from 1993 to 1995,^[2][10] and Chairman of theUniversity of Oxford's Admissions Committee from 1997 to 2000.^[2] As the latter, he aimed to widen the university's intake, and encouraged an increase in the number ofstate educated students.^[9]

In retirement, he was anhonorary fellow of St Peter's College, Oxford and a visiting professor at King's College, London.^[2][5]

In 1962, Barron marriedCaroline Mary Hogarth, a medieval historian.^[5] She is the granddaughter ofDavid George Hogarth, a noted archaeologist and decorated naval intelligence officer.^[7] Together they had two daughters.^[2]

After a short time living withpancreatic cancer, Barron died on 16 August 2008 in London, England: he was aged 74.^[9][4]

• Barron, John P. (1965).Greek Sculpture. London: Studio Vista.
• Barron, J. P. (1966).Silver Coins of Samos. London: The Athlone Press.ISBN 978-0485110807.
• Barron, John (1981).An Introduction to Greek Sculpture. London: Athlone.ISBN 9780485111965.
• Barron, John Penrose (2017).From Samos to Soho: The Unorthodox Life of Joseph Georgirenes, a Greek Archbishop. Bern: Peter Lang.ISBN 9783034317887.
• Barron, John P. (2006). "Chapter 3: Archbishop Joseph Georgirenes and the Prehistory of the Greek College". In Doll, Peter M. (ed.).Anglicanism and Orthodoxy 300 Years after the 'Greek College' in Oxford. Oxford: Peter Lang. pp. 79–112.ISBN 9783039105809.

• St Peter's College – Archives: The Papers of Professor John BarronArchived 13 April 2020 at theWayback Machine

• 1934 births
• 2008 deaths
• Academics of Bedford College, London
• Masters of St Peter's College, Oxford
• Classical scholars of the University of London
• People from Morley, West Yorkshire
• People educated at Clifton College
• Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford
• Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London
• Members of Academia Europaea
• Academics of University College London
• British classical archaeologists
• British numismatists
• Academics of King's College London
• Deaths from pancreatic cancer in England
• People educated at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield

• CS1 errors: periodical ignored
• Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the ODNB
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from February 2020
• Use British English from February 2020
• All Wikipedia articles written in British English
• Webarchive template wayback links