Barrington John Shute

Barrington, John Shute, Viscount, was born at Theobalds, Herts, in 1678, his family name "being Shute, which he exchanged for Barrington on inheriting a fortune. He was educated at Utrecht, where he wrote sundry Latin essays on law and theology. On his return he became an authority on the rights of Protestant dissenters, and was employed by Somers in various capacities. On the accession of George I. he represented Berwick in Parliament, and to gratify the king connected himself with the Harburg lottery. He was elevated to an Irish peerage, but when the scheme proved disastrous was expelled from the House of Commons (1723). He spent the rest of his life in retirement, writing Miscellanea Sacra, A Discourse on Natural and Revealed Religion, and many papers in favour of toleration. He died in 1734.