Irishlives

Barrington, George 1755-1804

GEORGE Barrington, a celebrated pickpocket, was born George Waldron in October 1755 at Maynooth, Co Kildare, son of Henry Waldron, silversmith, and his wife, a mantua-maker and midwife whose maiden name was Naish. Educated locally, he benefited from the patronage of a Church of Ireland clergyman and was sent to a grammar school in Dublin. In 1771 he was beaten badly in a quarrel with a fellow pupil, and retaliated by stabbing his opponent with a knife. Flogged and disgraced, he stole 10 guineas from the headmaster, and a watch from his sister, before fleeing. Arriving in Drogheda, he took the surname Barrington, and joined a travelling company of actors. To alleviate hardship, he was encouraged to steal, and found his talent.

Becoming a proficient “gentleman pickpocket”, in 1773 he went to England, where he gained a reputation for colourful escapades. It seems he delighted in disguises, and would pick pockets while dressed as a clergyman. In 1775 his luck ran out when he was caught stealing a jewelled snuffbox from a visiting Russian count; he avoided prosecution by giving an extravagant explanation. Arrested in 1777, he was this time convicted and sentenced to three years hard labour; freed after a year, he was re-arrested shortly afterwards and sent back to the hulks. Attempting suicide, he was pardoned after receiving sympathy from an unknown visitor.

Deciding to return to Dublin, he continued his life of crime, but by now his reputation preceded him and he was soon arrested. He moved to Edinburgh, and then London, but he had lost his edge and was once again convicted of pickpocketing. Tried at the Old Bailey (September 1790), he was transported to New South Wales. He discovered a mutiny on board but sided with the authorities, which saw him pardoned in 1792. Reinventing himself, in 1796, he became superintendent of convicts at Parramatta and later high constable. He died on December 27th, 1804.

Barrington's life and career saw numerous histories written in his name, including A voyage to Botany Bay(1801), and A sequel to Barrington's voyage to New South Wales(1801). Authorship of these works is disputed. It seems disreputable authors cashed in on his fame; an irony that would probably not have been lost on the celebrated "prince of pickpockets".

Patrick M Geoghegan

From the Royal Irish Academy’s Dictionary of Irish Biography (see dib.ie).

Correction: the Lugs Branigan biography published here on Jan 9 was written by James Quinn.