Background
Barker was the son of Augustin Barker of South Luffenham and Thomasyn Tryst of Maidford, Northamptonshire, and inherited the Lordship of the Manor of Lyndon, Rutland by the bequest of his father"s second cousin Sir Thomas Barker, 2nd Bt of Lyndon (1648-1706/7).
Career
Samuel entered Wadham College, University of Oxford in June 1704 and took his Bachelor of Arts on 13 February 1707/8. In 1717 Samuel married Sarah, only daughter of William Whiston, in whose memoirs he is mentioned. Their interests coincided closely, "Wicked" Will Whiston being the translator-editor of Josephus.
Whiston in later life resided with Samuel at Lyndon Hall and died there.
Samuel was the father of Thomas Barker (1722-1809), called "The father of meteorology", and was therefore the father-in-law of Ann Barker née White, the sister of Gilbert White of Selborne. Gilbert White maintained correspondence with Samuel Barker junr.
(grandson of Samuel), who like his great-grandfather Whiston attended Clare College, University of Cambridge.
Membership
Sir Thomas was a member of the "Order of Little Bedlam" or Bedlam Club based at Burghley House.