BARRINGTON, JOHN SHUTE, Lord Viscount Barrington, a nobleman distinguished for theological learning, was the youngest son of Benjamin Shute, merchant, and was born in 1678. He received part of his education at the university of Utrecht; and, after returning to England, studied law in the Inner Temple. In 1701 he commenced writer in favour of the civil rights of Protestant dissenters, to which body he belonged. At the recommendation of Lord Somers he was employed to engage the Presbyterians in Scotland to favour the union of the two kingdoms; and in 1708, for this service, was appointed to the place of commissioner of the customs. From this he was removed by the Tory ministry of Queen Anne; but his fortune was, in the mean time, improved by the bequest of two considerable estates; one of them left him by Francis Barrington of Tofts, Esq. whose name he assumed by act of parliament. Mr Barrington now stood at the head of the Dissenters. On the accession of George I. he was returned member of parliament.
Barrington, parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed; and in 1720 the king raised him to the Irish peerage, by the style of Viscount Barrington of Ardglais. He was unfortunately engaged as sub-governor in one of the bubbles of the time, the Harburgh lottery, and underwent the disgrace of expulsion from the house of commons, in 1723; a censure which was thought greatly too severe, and altogether unmerited on his part. In 1725 he published his principal work, entitled Miscellanea Sacra, or a new method of considering so much of the History of the Apostles as is contained in Scripture, in an abstract of their history, an abstract of that abstract, and four critical essays; 2 vols. 8vo. This work traces the methods taken by the first preachers of the gospel for propagating Christianity, and explains the several gifts of the Spirit, by which they were enabled to discharge their office. It has always been reckoned a valuable and judicious defence of the Christian cause; and was reprinted with additions and corrections, in 3 vols. 8vo, 1770, by his son, afterwards bishop of Durham. In the same year he published "An Essay on the several Dispensations of God to Mankind, in the Order in which they lie in the Bible, &c." 8vo, 1725. He wrote various other tracts, chiefly on subjects relative to toleration in matters of religion. He died in 1734, in his 56th year, leaving several children, of whom five sons had the uncommon fortune of rising to high stations in the church, the law, the army, and the navy. Lord Barrington was a friend and disciple of Locke, and adopted his sentiments as to the right and advantage of free inquiry, and the value of civil and religious liberty. He contributed greatly to the rising spirit of liberal scriptural criticism among those who wished to render religion rational. He was a man of great moderation, and, though chiefly connected with the Dissenters, he occasionally frequented and communicated with the established church. Gen. Biog.