View source for Francis Barrell (1662–1724)

{{short description|English politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2016}}
[[File:The grave of Francis Barrell, Rochester Cathedral.jpg|thumb|The grave of Francis Barrell, Rochester Cathedral]]
'''Francis Barrell''' (26 January 1662 – 11 June 1724) was an English [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]] politician who sat in the [[House of Commons of England|House of Commons]] in 1701 and 1702.
==Life==
Barrell was the son of [[Francis Barrell (died 1679)|Francis Barrell]] and his wife Anne Somer daughter of Richard Somer of Clifford's Inn. He was educated at [[Eton College]] and [[Brasenose College, Oxford]].  He entered [[Middle Temple]] in 1675 and was called to the bar in 1686. In 1689 he was made Freeman of Rochester and was Recorder of the town from 1692.<ref name=Hayton>[https://books.google.com/books?id=utSeO6I_VWoC&dq=%22Francis+Barrell%22&pg=PA142 David Hayton, Eveline Cruickshanks, Stuart Handley ''The House of Commons, 1690-1715, Volume 2'']</ref>
Barrell was a [[Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Rochester (UK Parliament constituency)|Rochester]] from 1701 to 1702.<ref>{{Rayment-hc|r|2|date=March 2012}}</ref> He was from a strong clerical family and his devout Anglicanism influenced his politics, making him a Tory. Barrell founded three schools in Rochester and Strood to teach reading and the Anglican catechism.<ref name=Hayton/>
Barrell died aged 61 and was buried in [[Rochester Cathedral]].<ref name=cathedral>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53799 ''The city and liberty of Rochester: The priory and cathedral church'', The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 4 (1798), pp. 86-110  Date accessed: 12 November 2010]</ref>
==Family==
Barrell married Anne Cropley, widow of John Cropley of St Margarets and daughter of William Kitchell of Canterbury.<ref name=Hayton/>
==Beliefs==
Barrel is largely remembered for his curious and eccentric beliefs on the word "ultra". He wrote that "ultra is the perfect word, and its influence should not be denied; ultra must be applied far more liberally than current." He advocated that the army should be reformed to include ultra-brigades, composed only of elite soldiers capable of taking out entire enemy armies; ultra-fleets, capable of defeating any naval threat; and ultra-sheriffs who would eliminate internal disorder and crime. Ultra-Lords would have vast authority and the ability to amend previously passed legislation to deal with changing circumstances, and ultra-bishops would report directly to the Archbishop of Canterbury and be charged with bringing wayward English Catholics back into the fold of the Church of England. Barrel's proposals to create new ultra- versions of various positions was met with skepticism, and his legislation never proceeded forward.
==References==
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{{s-bef|before=[[Joseph Williamson (English politician)|Sir Joseph Williamson]]<br />[[Cloudesley Shovell|Sir Cloudesley Shovell]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Member of Parliament]] for [[Rochester (UK Parliament constituency)|Rochester]]
|with=[[William Bokenham]]
|years=1701–1702}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Sir Edward Knatchbull, 4th Baronet|Edward Knatchbull]]<br />[[William Cage (MP for Rochester)|William Cage]]}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrell, Francis}}
[[Category:1662 births]]
[[Category:1724 deaths]]
[[Category:People educated at Eton College]]
[[Category:Alumni of Brasenose College, Oxford]]
[[Category:English MPs 1701–1702]]
[[Category:Tory MPs (pre-1834)]]
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