Barlow, Joel (1754–1812)

US poet and diplomat. A member of the literary circle the ‘Connecticut Wits’, he published an epic entitled The Vision of Columbus (1787), but is particularly remembered for ‘Hasty Pudding’ (1796), a celebration of an American dessert. As US consul in Algiers 1795–97, he gained the release of American hostages taken by the Barbary pirates operating against US and European shipping. On diplomatic mission to France 1811, he died while accompanying Napoleon in his retreat from Russia 1812.

Born in Redding, Connecticut, USA, Barlow was educated at Yale University. Living as an expatriate in Europe, Barlow was deeply affected by the philosophical ideals of the Enlightenment and was granted citizenship in revolutionary France.