BARNETT, MORRIS (1800–1856), actor and dramatist, born in 1800, was originally brought up to the musical profession. The earlier part of his life was passed in Paris. Having resolved to adopt the stage as a profession, he went as a comedian to Brighton and thence to Bath. In 1833 he was engaged by Alfred Bunn for Drury Lane Theatre, when he made his first great hit in the part of Tom Drops in Douglas Jerrold's comedy ‘The Schoolfellows.’ He showed his peculiar talents in ‘Capers and Coronets,’ and after this he wrote, and performed the title rôle in, ‘Monsieur Jacques,’ a musical piece, which in 1837 created a furore at the St. James's Theatre. As a delineator of French character he obtained a celebrity in which, save by Mr. Wigan, he was unrivalled. After a period devoted chiefly to literary pursuits, he reappeared on the stage of the Princess's Theatre, where his ‘Old Guard,’ in the piece of that name, attracted general attention. He then joined the literary staff of the ‘Morning Post’ and the ‘Era,’ of which papers he was the musical critic for nearly seven years. In September 1854 he resolved to go to America, and before his departure gave a series of farewell performances at the Adelphi Theatre. The transatlantic trip was not successful. A period of severe ill-health deprived him of the power of exercising his abilities. He at last sank under the effects of his long illness, and died on 18 March 1856 at Montreal.
As a dramatist he acquired celebrity by the comedy of ‘The Serious Family,’ which he adapted from ‘Le Mari à la Campagne.’ Among his other pieces are ‘Lilian Gervais,’ a drama in three acts, adapted from the French play of J. E. Alboize de Pujol and E. Déaddé, entitled ‘Marie Simon;’ ‘Married and Un-married,’ a drama; ‘The Bold Dragoons,’ a comic drama; ‘Circumstantial Evidence,’ a comic piece; and ‘Mrs. G. of the Golden Pippin,’ a petite opera.
[Era, 13 April 1856 (town edit.), 15; Gent. Mag. (N.S.) xlv. 541; Cat. of Printed Books in Brit. Mus.]
BARNEWALL, ANTHONY (1721–1739), officer in the German army, was the sixth and youngest son of John, eleventh Lord Trimleston. At the age of seventeen he served in Germany with General Hamilton's regiment of cuirassiers. ‘His good sense, humility, good nature, and truly honest worthy principles, gained him the love and esteem of all who had the least acquaintance with him’ (letter to Lord Mountgarret from a general in the imperial service, 1739). There was scarcely an action of any note with the Turk that he was not in, and he always acquitted himself with uncommon resolution. He fell a victim to his headlong bravery in the stubborn battle of Krotzka (September 1739), when the Austrians were defeated by the Turks. Young Barnewall had been promoted to the rank of lieutenant only the day before. His regiment was one of the first that charged the enemy, and, the captain and cornet being killed at the first onset, the lieutenant took up the standard, tore off the flag, tied it round his waist, and led the troop to the charge. Twice he was repulsed, when, turning to his men with the words, ‘Come on, my brave fellows! we shall certainly do the work now,’ for the third time he spurred his horse into the thickest of the enemy, where, being surrounded, he fell, covered with wounds.
[Lodge's Peerage of Ireland, v. 43.]
BARNEWALL, JOHN, third Baron Trimleston (1470–1538), was high chancellor of Ireland. The Barons Trimleston, like the Viscounts Kingsland, descend from the De Bernevals of Brittany. Sir Christopher Barnewall of Crickstown, in the county of Meath, was chief justice of the king's bench in Ireland in 1445–46. His eldest son, Nicholas, became chief justice of the common pleas in 1461. His second son Robert was knighted by King Edward IV; and in consideration of the good and faithful services done by him in Ireland to that king's father, he was created by letters patent, dated at Westminster 4 March 1461, baron of Trimleston in Ireland. His son Christopher, the second lord, received a pardon in 1488 for being concerned in the conspiracy of Lambert Simnel against King Henry VII. John, the third lord, succeeded his father Christopher early in the reign of Henry VIII. He rose to high office under that monarch, and received large grants of land from him in Dunleer. In 1509 he was made second justice of the king's bench; in 1522 vice-treasurer of Ireland; in 1524 high treasurer; and in 1534 high chancellor of Ireland, an office which he held till his death. In 1536 he was associated with the lord treasurer Brabazon in an expedition into Offaly, where they expelled from that county the O'Connor, who was then ravaging the Anglo-Irish settlements. The next year the chancellor, commissioned by the lord deputy Grey and his privy council, treated successfully with the O'Neill in the borders of Ulster, securing his submission and the disbandment of his forces. He died 25 July 1538, having been four times married. The ancient barony of Trimleston became extinct in August 1879 by the death
