and swordsmanship. He bred his own racehorses and rode as his own jockey. He was especially famous for placing huge bets on both these sports and other extraordinarily ludicrous challenges. He patronised his own personal bare-knuckle boxer, and his wife also boxed. He made two known appearances in first-class cricket matches from 1791 to 1792, playing as a member of the Brighton Cricket Club. He was listed in the scorecards as Lord Barrymore. Theatre He attended regularly the theatre, and had built, acted at and ran a costly theatre in Wargrave before his early death. Politics He expended money to be one of the two MPs for Heytesbury from 1791, able to contribute to the national debate until his death. Military career and early death Barrymore retired to life in the Berkshire Militia, into which he had been commissioned in 1789 and was later promoted Captain, but was accidentally killed at Folkestone on 6 March 1793. When driving a gig his musket discharged while escorting French prisoners of war to Dover. He was buried on 17 May 1793 in St Mary's Church in Wargrave. Aftermath Barrymore family estate Lord Barrymore died in perhaps unexpected solvency, with no legitimate son. He had alienated much of his Cork patrimony in 1792, at which time the Buttevant estate passed to Viscount Doneraile and to a Scottish banker, John Anderson. Literary references In the 20th century historic novel Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer, a character remarks tolerantly that "the Barrymores, you know, really cannot be held accountable for their odd manners". Notes and references Notes References External links Royal Berkshire History: Richard Barry, Earl of Barrymore 1769 births 1793 deaths People educated at Eton College Firearm accident victims Royal Berkshire Militia officers British racehorse owners and breeders English gamblers English jockeys English male stage actors English theatre directors English theatre managers and producers History of boxing People from Marylebone People from Wargrave Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies British MPs 1790–1796 English cricketers English cricketers of 1787 to 1825 Brighton cricketers Deaths by firearm in England Accidental deaths in England Richard Earls of Barrymore