Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/53

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44
BARRY.

and zeal shewn for his majesty's service, creating him Lord Baron of Santry of the Kingdom of Ireland; and he was soon after called to the privy council.

He died in March 1672, and was buried in Christ Church, Dublin. He left behind him issue to inherit his titles and estate. His only publication was, "The Case of Tenures upon the Commission of Defective Titles, argued by all the Judges of Ireland; with the Resolution, and the Reasons of their Resolution". Dublin, 1637, folio, dedicated to the Earl of Strafford.



SPRANGER BARRY.

This celebrated actor, who so equally divided the laurel with the immortal Garrick, was born on the 20th November, 1719, in the parish of St. Warburgh, Dublin. He was the son of an eminent silversmith of that city, prosperous in trade, and possessing good family connections, who bred this his eldest son to the business; but an early intercourse with the theatres (of which there were two at that period in Dublin) with the solicitation of a remarkably handsome and finely-proportioned person, melodious and powerful voice, and pleasing address, quickly obliterated every idea relative to business, which the attendance behind the counter between two and three years, might have enabled him to acquire, and he commenced actor in, the year 1744, making his first appearance in the arduous character of Othello.

It has been observed, with some truth, that most first appearances discover more of inclination than real genius. The case was, however, different with Mr. Barry, for he, like our celebrated Roscius, nearly gained the summit of perfection at his outset, and (if we credit the accounts of some of the best theatrical judges of that day) gave evident marks that he required nothing but stage practice to place him at the head of his profession. The summer of 1744 he played in Cork, and acquired fresh fame; and here