Enter Barnardo

More has been written about Thomas John Barnardo (1845–1905) and his organisation than about any other child welfare society in Britain. It is therefore unnecessary to dwell on his biographical details or the rather tempestuous history of the organisation in the nineteenth century. However, Barnardos sent more children to Canada than any other agency – altogether 24,854 children (70 per cent of them boys) were reportedly emigrated under its auspices between 1882 and 1915, the peak years being after the turn of the century. Given the size of the organisation's contribution to juvenile emigration to Canada it is important to appreciate what led to its prominent position and, indeed, to understand what prevented an even greater number of children being sent across the Atlantic.

The roots of Barnardo's child welfare activities lay in evangelism, as did those of so many other philanthropic enterprises of the period. By the time Barnardo arrived in London from Ireland in 1866 he had already embraced the precepts of the Brethren movement and although he later rejected some of its stricter injunctions, its influence remained important throughout his life. He believed that he was divinely called to the work of child salvation and this conviction merged with his autocratic and ambitious personality to create an abiding sense of self-righteousness, a resistance to criticism, an often reckless disregard of the law and a desire to occupy the foremost position in the field of child welfare. He also harboured an antagonism towards Catholicism that, among other things, drew him into lengthy and costly litigation.

In 1866 Barnardo's evangelism had taken him to London's East End as a preacher and it was there that he established his juvenile mission two years later. Although this provided some shelter and some training it was primarily concerned with the propagation of the Gospel; but the need for accommodation led to the opening of the first Home in 1870, to be followed by others soon afterwards. At the time of his death in 1905 there were 37 Homes as well as many other different kinds of centres. Yet how had all this been possible for a man who was not wealthy? There are two principal explanations.