Author: WordNerd100

Barnardo was born in 1845 in Dublin, the son of John Michaelis Barnardo - of Sephardic Jewish descent - and Abigail – of English background and a member of Plymouth Brethren, a conservative, low church, non-conformist, evangelical Christian movement.

Barnardo, as a young child, was rather capitalist in his views and, in this, undoubtedly egotistical; however, he abandoned these ideas in favour of a more benevolent aim – helping the poor.

In the 1860s Barnardo started his philanthropic work, beginning with opening a school in the East End of London to aid the orphan and destitute children affected by a recent cholera epidemic. Shortly afterwards, in 1866, Barnardo moved to London in the hopes of becoming a missionary. 1870 then marked the year he opened a boys' orphanage at 18 Stepney Causeway which was followed by a girls' home.

The continuation of his philanthropic work meant that, by the time of his death in 1905, his institutions cared for over 8,500 children in 96 locations, though his work led him to be taken to court on 88 occasions, largely on account of 'kidnapping' which he later admitted to and renamed 'philanthropic abduction' as his motives were virtuous.

Barnardo's philanthropic endeavours led to a positive impact on public health. At a time when poverty and overcrowding were on the rise, Barnardo offered better conditions for children and in doing so lowered the rate of infant mortality and general disease.