Military officer; born in
Dublin, Ireland, in 1726.
His parents
were
French, his father being a small tradesman in
Dublin.
Isaac entered the
British army at the age of twenty-one, and participated in the expedition against
Louisburg in 1758.
Wolfe was his friend, and appointed him major of brigade; and in May, 1759, he was made adjutant-general of
Wolfe's army that assailed
Quebec.
He was severely wounded in the battle on the
Plains of Abraham, by which he lost the sight of one eye.
Barre served under
Amherst in 1760; and was the official bearer of the news of the surrender of
Montreal to
England.
In 1761 he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and the same year he obtained a seat in Parliament, where he found himself in opposition to the ministry.
For this offence he was deprived of his offices, given him as a reward for his services in
America.
He was the warm friend of the colonies, and made able speeches in Parliament in their favor.
Barre was one of the supposed authors of the
Letters of Junius.
Strong in person, vigorous in mind, independent in thought and action, he was a dreaded opponent.
During the last twenty years of his life he was blind.
He died in
London, July 20, 1802.