Author: Barrett, Eaton Stannard
Biography:
BARRETT, Eaton Stannard (1786-1820: ODNB)
pseudonyms Polypus; Scrutator
Poet, novelist, dramatist, Tory satirist. He was born at Cork; although little is known about his family, his mother’s maiden name was Stannard and his great-grandfather was Eaton Stannard, one of the executors of Jonathan Swift’s will. He attended a private school at Wandsworth Common, London, before studying at Trinity College Dublin (BA 1805). After graduating, he went to London and entered the Middle Temple on 14 Nov. 1805 but was never called to the bar. Despite the popularity of some of his books (particularly Woman, a Poem; All the Talents; and his 1813 three-volume novel, The Heroine), he seems to have struggled financially throughout his life. All the Talents is a satire on the coalition government of 1806-7 which was known as "Ministry of all the Talents." Barrett followed it with The Comet (2nd edn 1808), a "mock newspaper" in prose and verse. He died suddenly of apoplexy at Glamorgan on 20 Mar. 1820 and was buried on 28 Mar. (ODNB 23 Feb. 2018; EN2; Ashworth P. Burke, Family Records [1897]; Catalogue of Graduates; Records of Admission to the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple 2 [1949]; John Strachan and Steven E. Jones, British Satire 1785-1840 [2003]) SR
Other Names:
- E. S. B.