• Name: Barry, Major Henry
• Gender: Male
• Birth Date: 1749
• Death Date: 2  November  1822
• Occupation: soldier

Colonel Henry Barry was an army man who moved in literary circles and is associated with Hester Piozzi. Godwin gave him his St Dunstan to read but there is no record of what Barry thought of the tragedy.

There is a problem in distinguishing between James Barry and Colonel Henry Barry . Although Godwin often uses Henry Barry's rank (Colonel and Major) in the diary, it is clear from a reference in Holcroft's diary that on at least one occasion, Godwin uses plain Barry to refer to Henry rather than James (p. 181-2), and we cannot assume that this is an isolated incident. Moreover, many plain Barry entries are linked to Debrett's, and while it is clear that Henry Barry attends Debrett's, we have no evidence that James Barry does and there is no J Barry recorded at Debrett's. (Also, given James Barry's connections with Edmund Burke (his patron) it might be unlikely he would attend this centre for Foxite whigs).

We have observed the following rule of thumb in coding the entries. Where there is an initial or prefix we code accordingly. Where these are lacking and there is no contexct, we assume James Barry. Where the context links to the Hollis circles and dissent, we have coded for James Barry; where there are links to Holcroft, since we are aware that he is associated with both, we have coded entries as James in domestic and literary settings and Henry in political ones; where the entries link to whig politics and Debrett's, we have coded the Barry entries as Henry. Following this makes most sense when the entries without an initial are compared to the distribution of entries with an initial. However, this may still not be wholly accurate and further evidence is required to confirm these decisions.

According to the DNB Henry Barry (1749/50-1822), army officer, is serving in India until 1792 - whereas Godwin records meeting Major/Col Barry during 1788-91. Deborah Kennedy, Helen Maria Williams and the Age of Revolution refs to Williams being introduced by Anna Seward to 'the literary Colonel Henry Barry in October 1787' and the source in her footnote says that although Barry (1750-1822) 'remained in the army until 1794, he was well known in English literary and scientific circles by 1789'. Godwin seems to get the date of his promotion right, changing from Major to Colonel between Feb and Oct 1790 (the DNB says he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in May 1790). As well as in London, Godwin meets him in Bath, where the DNB says Henry Barry spent most of his retirement. Although Godwin drops the prefix 'Col' when he sees him in Bath, these identifications seem plausible (ie they refer to Henry, not James, Barry) - he uses it the first time he meets Henry Barry in Bath and then drops it when recording the multiple contacts concentrated over the next few days. Col Barry's address is noted as No 13 Grafton St. in MS. Abinger c. 31, fols. 90-110: 1782-1808.

Godwin records his death.

• MS. Abinger c. 31, fols. 90-110: 1782-1808.
• DNB
• Deborah Kennedy, Helen Maria Williams and the Age of Revolution (Lewisburg and London: Bucknell University Press and Associated University Presses, 2002)
• Thomas Holcroft, The life of Thomas Holcroft, continued by William Hazlitt, ed. by Elbridge Colby, 2 vols (London: Constable & Co., 1925)

This table lists the people this person is most frequently noted with in the diary.