hiː wʌz bˈɔːɹn ɪn ˈiːli plˈeɪs, hˈɑːlbɔːɹn ɪn lˈʌndən, ðə sˈʌn ʌvðɪ ˈɛmɪnənt ˈɑːɹkɪtˌɛkt, sˌɜː tʃˈɑːɹlz bˈæɹi ænd sˈɛɹɚ ɹˈoʊzl, ænd hæd fˈoːɹ bɹˈʌðɚz; tʃˈɑːɹlz bˈæɹi dʒˈuːnjɚ, ˈɛdwɚd mˈɪdəltən bˈæɹi, dʒˈɑːn wˈʊlfbˈæɹi ænd ɡˈɑːdfɹi bˈæɹi.
He was born in Ely Place, Holborn in London, the son of the eminent architect, Sir Charles Barry and Sarah Rowsell, and had four brothers; Charles Barry (junior), Edward Middleton Barry, John Wolfe-Barry and Godfrey Barry.