Richard Barry, 7th Earl of Barrymore

Richard Barry, 7th Earl of Barrymore (14 August 1769 – 6 March 1793) was an English nobleman of Irish heritage, as well as an infamous rake, gambler, sportsman, theatrical enthusiast and womanizer.

One of his most favoured practical jokes would involve pretending to kidnap girls from the streets of London and place coffins outside of their houses with a view to terrifying their servants.

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.

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".

In April Lady, however, Heyer, as narrator, states that the earl of Barrymore "generally presided" over the "unsavoury" Beggars Club.

She states that he had "introduced the fashionable practice of driving with a small Tiger perched up beside him... but society, with the exception of the Prince Regent... was obstinate in avoiding him."