Background
Barnett was born in Nottingham, England.
Barnett was born in Nottingham, England.
He completed a classical education by the age of 16, then trained with Sir Thomas Hine at a builder in Nottingham, and then took on an apprenticeship with an architectural firm in London.
He was called The Dean of Saint Louis Architecture for his contributions to the buildings of Saint Louis as well as for his influence on other architects in the United States. Barnett left England for the United States in early 1839, remaining in New York City for six months before departing for Saint Louis. Barnett designed hundreds of buildings in Saint Louis, many in Greek Revival, Italianate, and Gothic design.
Among his best known structures are renovations to the Old Courthouse, the Missouri Governor"s mansion, the structures of the Missouri Botanical Garden, Tower Grove Park, and the Southern Hotel.
Barnett"s son, Thomas P. Barnett, trained with the elder Barnett and went on to design such American landmarks as the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis and the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas. Other notable architects who apprenticed under Barnett included Henry G. Isaacs, Alfred H. Piquenard, Charles F. May, William Kirchner, Isaac Taylor, and George Strafford Mills.
Barnett did not deviate from classical designs, and his portfolio was largely responsible for establishing Classicism as Saint Louis" dominate architectural influence.