Anna Letitia, was born at Kibworth, in Leicestershire, on the 20th June 1743. She was the daughter of the Rev. John Aikin, LL.D., a minister of the Presbyterian denomination, who had a private seminary at Kibworth, and removed in 1758 to Warrington, in Lancashire, to superintend the public academy in that place. His daughter was remarkable for the abilities she displayed at a very early age; and, beside the usual female accomplishments, she soon acquired a knowledge of the Latin and Greek tongues. She was distinguished in the literary society of Warrington for the variety of her attainments and the elegance of her taste, which were rendered still more attractive by her personal beauty, vivacity, and amiable disposition. In 1774 she married the Rev. Rochemont Barbauld, who was descended of a French Protestant family, and had studied under her father. They opened a school at Palgrave, in Suffolk, which they carried on successfully during eleven years. Among the number of their pupils were Sir William Gell and Lord Denman. Mrs Barbauld's Hymns in Prose, which are poetry in everything but metre, were composed for the instruction of her pupils; as were also the Early Lessons, one of the standard works for children, published in 1775. Her Devotional Pieces appeared during the same year. Besides various other literary productions, she engaged with her brother, Dr Aikin, in the popular work entitled Evenings at Home, which appeared in 1793. After a sojourn of two years on the continent with her husband to recruit their health, Mr Barbauld accepted an invitation to become the pastor of a dissenting congregation at Hampstead, where they resided from 1787 till 1802. They then took up their residence at Stoke-Newington, in consequence of Mr Barbauld's having accepted a similar charge at Newington Green. Mrs Barbauld lost her husband in 1809; and her brother, Dr Aikin, died in 1822. Her own death followed on the 9th March 1825. She left no children. Her collected works, with a memoir of her life by her niece, Miss Lucy Aikin, were published soon after her death, in 2 vols. 8vo.

BARRE, BARB, or BARDE, is an old word, denoting the armour of the horses of the ancient knights and soldiers, who were accoutred at all points. It consisted of iron and leather, and defended the neck, breast, and shoulders of the horse.