Sir Jonah Barrington

author

Sir Jonah Barrington

1760–1834

Best remembered for lively memoirs of Irish life before the Union, this lawyer, judge, and politician turned personal experience into some of the most vivid social sketches of his time. His career was dramatic even by 18th- and 19th-century standards, ending in a rare removal from the bench.

3 Audiobooks

Personal sketches of his own times, Vol. 2 (of 3)

Personal sketches of his own times, Vol. 2 (of 3)

by Sir Jonah Barrington

Personal sketches of his own times, Vol. 3 (of 3)

Personal sketches of his own times, Vol. 3 (of 3)

by Sir Jonah Barrington

Personal sketches of his own times, Vol. 1 (of 3)

Personal sketches of his own times, Vol. 1 (of 3)

by Sir Jonah Barrington

About the author

Born in Queen's County, Ireland, in the late 1750s, Sir Jonah Barrington built a career as a lawyer, entered parliament, and later served as a judge. He is closely associated with opposition to the Act of Union of 1800, which joined Great Britain and Ireland under one parliament.

What keeps Barrington interesting for modern readers is his writing. His memoirs and recollections of late 18th-century Ireland are known for their humor, storytelling, and eye for memorable characters, giving readers a lively picture of social and political life in his era.

His public career also had a troubled ending: in 1830 he was removed from the judiciary by parliament, a striking and unusual downfall. He died in Versailles on April 8, 1834, but his reputation has lasted mainly through the energy and color of his reminiscences.