Barry Ignatius McCool was an Irishman involved in the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Some captured members were given the choice of prison or serving in the British armed forces, which McCool chose the navy and was read aboard HMS Renown, Captain James Sawyer commanding, under the pseudonym O'Shaughnessy. He later deserted the ship off the coast of France and later was reported to be in Paris. McCool was aboard the French brig Espérance when it was captured by the Channel fleet.