Background
He was born on 15 November 1845, son of Charles Barbé, Commissaire de Marine, Cherbourg. His mother was Desirée Barbé, née Javelot. In 1880, he married Alice Rosa Allen, who was the daughter of John George Allen of Guernsey.
He was born on 15 November 1845, son of Charles Barbé, Commissaire de Marine, Cherbourg. His mother was Desirée Barbé, née Javelot. In 1880, he married Alice Rosa Allen, who was the daughter of John George Allen of Guernsey.
He was educated in France and began his teaching career as Professor of English at the College Jean-Baronet, Dunkerque.
He settled in Scotland and wrote innumerable books on Scottish history and biography. Foreign six years he was tutor to the Princes of Schaumburg-Lippe. He moved to Glasgow in 1884 and was head of the Modern Languages department at the Glasgow Academy from 1884 to 1918.
He was employed as a reviewer with the Glasgow Herald from 1887 to 1926 and joined the Institute of Journalists in 1893.
He acted as an examiner in French at the University of Edinburgh from 1901 and in Modern Languages at the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh. His books are remarkably well-written and show no obvious French influence.
He died on 10 September 1926 at Dunbar, East Lothian.