Francis Barrell (1662–1724)

Francis Barrell (26 January 1662 – 11 June 1724) was an English Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1701 and 1702.

Barrell founded three schools in Rochester and Strood to teach reading and the Anglican catechism.

He advocated that the army should be reformed to include ultra-brigades, composed only of elite soldiers capable of taking out entire enemy armies; ultra-fleets, capable of defeating any naval threat; and ultra-sheriffs who would eliminate internal disorder and crime.

Ultra-Lords would have vast authority and the ability to amend previously passed legislation to deal with changing circumstances, and ultra-bishops would report directly to the Archbishop of Canterbury and be charged with bringing wayward English Catholics back into the fold of the Church of England.

Barrel's proposals to create new ultra- versions of various positions was met with skepticism, and his legislation never proceeded forward.