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Sir Francis Barry, 1st Baronet

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Barry in 1895.

Sir Francis Tress Barry, 1st Baronet (1825 – 28 February 1907) was an English businessman who made his fortune from a copper mine in Portugal. Late in his life he became a Conservative Party politician to England, and sat in the Commons from 1890 to 1906.

Early life

Barry was born in 1825, the eldest son of Charles Barry from Orpington, Kent.[1] He was educated in London at Camberwell Collegiate School.[2] In 1851 he married Sarah Douglas, the daughter of Arthur Herron from Northiam in Sussex. The couple had four sons and two daughters, and celebrated their golden wedding in 1901.[2]

Career

The Sao Domingos Mine in Portugal, owned by Barry's company Mason & Barry

Leaving school at the age of 16, Barry went to Spain to work in a business in Bilbao. He became the British vice-consul for the Biscay province in 1846, and the following year he served as temporary consul for the Biscay, Santander and Guipúzcoa provinces.[2]

In the 1850s he was offered the post of consul in Madrid, but turned down the job to concentrate in his business interests. He returned to England, where he joined with his brother-in-law James Mason to take a 50-year lease on the Sao Domingos copper mine in Portugal.[2] They switched production technique to opencast mining, and made large profits.

In 1863 was awarded the Order of Christ by King Luís I of Portugal, was promoted to Commander of that order in 1868, and ennobled as Baron de Barry in 1873. He also received the Cross of Naval Merit from the King of Spain.[2]

Barry's Scottish residence was Keiss Castle in Caithness

In 1872 he purchased a country estate: St Leonard's Hill near Windsor, Berkshire, which he used to lend to the Prince of Wales during Royal Ascot.[2] He also owned Keiss Castle in Scotland, where he served as a Deputy Lieutenant of Caithness.

In around 1900 he excavated Nybster Broch, an Iron Age drystone structure. The site has been designated a scheduled monument.[3]

Politics

In April 1890, Barry was elected at a by-election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Windsor.[4][5] He was made a baronet in 1899,[6] and held the seat until he stood down from Parliament at the 1906 general election, when his nephew James Francis Mason was elected to succeed him.[7]

He was also an Alderman of Berkshire County Council.[2]

Death

Barry died on 28 February 1907, aged 82, at his home St Leonard's Place.[2] His estate was valued at probate at £640,270.[8]

References

  1. ^ Debrett's House of Commons, and the Judicial Bench. London: Dean & Son. 1901. p. 9. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Obituary. Sir. F. Tress Barry". The Times. 1 March 1907. p. 8. Retrieved 7 September 2012.(subscription required)
  3. ^ "Broch, Nybster". The Highland Council. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  4. ^ Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1989]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 211. ISBN 0-900178-27-2.
  5. ^ "No. 26039". The London Gazette. 4 April 1890.
  6. ^ "No. 27056". The London Gazette. 24 February 1899.
  7. ^ "Biographies Of New Member". The Times. 25 January 1906. p. 15. Retrieved 6 September 2012.(subscription required)
  8. ^ "Wills.-Sir Francis Tress Barry". The Times. 23 April 1907. p. 9. Retrieved 7 September 2012.(subscription required)
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Windsor
1890–1906 		Succeeded by
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baronet
(of St Leonard's Hill and Keiss Castle)
1899–1907 		Succeeded by
Edward Arthur Barry

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