William Barrington, 6th Viscount Barrington

William Keppel Barrington, 6th Viscount Barrington (6 October 1793 – 9 February 1867), styled The Honourable from 1814 until 1829, was a British businessman and politician.

Background and education

Born in London, Barrington was the eldest son of Reverend George Barrington, 5th Viscount Barrington, by his wife Elizabeth, second daughter of Robert Adair and Lady Caroline Keppel. He was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1814.

Political career

Barrington succeeded in the viscountcy on the death of his father in 1829. However, as this was a title in the Peerage of Ireland, it did not entitle him to a seat in the House of Lords. In 1837 he was instead elected to the British House of Commons as one of three representatives for Berkshire, a seat he held until 1857. He was also Chairman of the Great Western Railway between 1856 and 1857.

Family

Lord Barrington married the Hon. Jane Elizabeth Liddell, fourth daughter of Thomas Liddell, 1st Baron Ravensworth, in 1823. They had five sons and five daughters. Barrington died at Shrivenham, Berkshire, in February 1867, aged 73, and was succeeded in the viscountcy by his eldest son, George. Lady Barrington died in March 1883, aged 78. Their third son was the diplomat Sir William Barrington, and their fifth (but fourth surviving) son the civil servant Sir Eric Barrington.