John Perry Barlow
Grateful Dead lyricist who co-founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation
- Lived
- 70 yrs
- 1947 – 2018
- Works listed
- 2
- Essay, Memoir
- Honours
- 1
- Most recent 2013
- Profile views
- 2
- 0 followers
John Perry Barlow was an American poet, Grateful Dead lyricist and cyber-libertarian who co-founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation in 1990. His 1996 “Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace” became a manifesto of internet freedom.
Biography
Rancher and lyricist
Barlow grew up on a cattle ranch in Wyoming and studied at Wesleyan University. From 1971 he wrote lyrics for the Grateful Dead with Bob Weir, including “Cassidy” and “Estimated Prophet”, while running his family ranch.
The EFF
After an FBI agent questioned him about stolen software in 1990, Barlow realised law enforcement misunderstood the online world. That year he co-founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation with Mitch Kapor and John Gilmore to defend civil liberties online.
Cyberspace
He popularised the use of “cyberspace” for the online world. His “Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace”, written at Davos in 1996 in protest at a US law, declared that governments had no sovereignty there.
Later life
He co-founded the Freedom of the Press Foundation in 2012. He died in 2018.
Timeline
-
1947
Born in Sublette County, Wyoming, United States
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1971
Begins writing for the Grateful Dead
-
1990
Co-founds the EFF
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1996
Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace
-
2012
Co-founds the Freedom of the Press Foundation
-
2013
Internet Hall of Fame
-
2018
Dies
-
2018
Died, aged 70
Notable works
-
1996
A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace Essay
-
2018
Mother American Night Memoir
Awards and honours
-
Internet Hall of Fame
2013
Did you know?
-
1
He was a Republican county chairman and worked on Dick Cheney’s first campaign.
-
2
He went to school with Bob Weir.
-
3
His memoir was published after his death.
Connections
Related people
Frequently asked
Who is John Perry Barlow?
John Perry Barlow was an American poet, Grateful Dead lyricist and cyber-libertarian who co-founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation in 1990. His 1996 “Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace” became a manifesto of internet freedom.
When did John Perry Barlow die?
John Perry Barlow died on 7 February 2018 at the age of 70.
Where is John Perry Barlow from?
John Perry Barlow was born in Sublette County, Wyoming, United States.
What is John Perry Barlow known for?
John Perry Barlow is best known for Co-founding the EFF (1990); “A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace” (1996); Grateful Dead lyrics.
What awards has John Perry Barlow received?
Notable honours include Internet Hall of Fame (2013).
References
- John Perry Barlow — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- John Perry Barlow — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- John Perry Barlow — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- Official website. homes.eff.org. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- John Perry Barlow (Q534428) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “John Perry Barlow”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 4 November 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“John Perry Barlow.” TrackFame, last updated 5 November 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/john-perry-barlow
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