Background
The eldest son of Sir Charles Barrie, he was educated at the High School of Dundee and Blairlodge School, Polmont.
The eldest son of Sir Charles Barrie, he was educated at the High School of Dundee and Blairlodge School, Polmont.
Barrie served during the First World War in an advisory capacity at the Transport Department of the Admiralty, and latterly in the Ministry of Shipping. Barrie was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1918 and a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1921. In June 1940 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Abertay, of Tullybelton in the County of Perth, which title became extinct on his death in December that year.
Barrie was also a shipowner and merchant, and held a number of business appointments including as a Director of the London and North Eastern Railway, of the Central Argentine Railway, of the Mercantile Bank of India, of Phoenix Assurance Company, and of Cable and Wireless Limited.
30th United Kingdom Parliament. 31st United Kingdom Parliament. 32nd United Kingdom Parliament.
33rd United Kingdom Parliament.
36th United Kingdom Parliament. 37th United Kingdom Parliament]
He was the Minister of Munitions representative in Paris during the Peace Conference, and was a Member of the Supreme Economic Council.
He also served as Chairman of the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes and as a Member of the Advisory Council to the General Post Office. He was Liberal Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for Elgin Burghs briefly during 1918, for Banffshire from 1918–1924 and later sat for Southampton from 1931-1940 as a Liberal National.