Anne (Barry) Irwin

Anne Barry was born in Dublin around 1732, the only daughter of Sir Edward Barry (1696-1776), Bart., M.D., a distinguished physician, member of the Irish House of Commons, and authority on wine. Her father served as physician-general to the forces in Ireland and it was perhaps through him that she met John Irwin (1728-1788), a widowed lieutenant-colonel in the 5th foot (infantry) regiment, who was also an intimate friend of Lord Chesterfield and protégé of the Duke of Dorset. They married in 1753, and four years later his regiment relocated from Ireland to Chatham, Kent. Thereafter, Anne Irwin and her husband were frequently in London, where they became prominent members of society. In 1762, when her husband became a Member of Parliament for East Grinstead, they settled in a house in Queen Anne Street, Cavendish Square. Four years later they moved to Gibraltar, where her husband served as Governor from 1766-1768. Anne Irwin died there on August 12, 1767. Her husband was afterwards appointed Commander-in-Chief of Ireland, Knight of the Bath, and Privy Councillor. He died at Parma, Italy, in 1788, having married a third time.