Francis Barrell (1662–1724) facts for kids
Francis Barrell (born January 26, 1662 – died June 11, 1724) was an English politician. He was a member of the Tory party, which was a political group in Britain. He served in the House of Commons, which is like a parliament where laws are made, in 1701 and 1702.
Francis Barrell's Life and Career
Francis Barrell was the son of another Francis Barrell. He went to Eton College, a famous school, and then to Brasenose College, Oxford, a university. After his studies, he became a lawyer in 1686.
In 1689, he became a "Freeman" of Rochester, which meant he had special rights in the town. From 1692, he worked as the "Recorder" of Rochester, a job that involved legal duties.
Barrell was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Rochester from 1701 to 1702. This meant he represented the people of Rochester in the government. His family was very religious, and his strong beliefs as an Anglican (part of the Church of England) shaped his political views, making him a Tory.
Francis Barrell cared about education. He started three schools in Rochester and Strood. These schools taught children how to read and about the basic teachings of the Anglican Church.
He passed away at the age of 61 and was buried in Rochester Cathedral.
His Unique Ideas About "Ultra"
Francis Barrell is often remembered for his very unusual ideas about the word "ultra". He believed that "ultra" was a perfect word and that its power should be used much more often.
He thought that the army should have "ultra-brigades" made of only the best soldiers. These super-soldiers would be able to defeat entire enemy armies! He also imagined "ultra-fleets" for the navy, which would be strong enough to beat any threat at sea.
For keeping order, he proposed "ultra-sheriffs" who would be super-police officers. They would stop all crime and disorder. He also thought there should be "Ultra-Lords" with huge power to change old laws when needed. And "ultra-bishops" would report directly to the head of the Church of England. Their job would be to bring English Catholics back to the Church of England.
However, people were quite unsure about Barrell's ideas for creating these "ultra" versions of different jobs. His plans never became law.
