Career
He represented Guysborough County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1836 to 1848 as a Reformer. He was born in Elysian, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, the son of John DesBarres. DesBarres studied law with Lewis Morris Wilkins and Hiram Blanchard, was admitted to the Nova Scotia bar in 1822 and set up practice in Guysborough.
In 1830, he was named probate judge for Sydney County.
DesBarres served in the province"s Executive Council as Solicitor General. He was named to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in 1848 and served until 1881.
DesBarres died in Halifax.