Charles Barry, Jnr. was born at 39 Ely Place, Holborn, London on 21 September 1823 and was articled to his father, Sir Charles Barry (1795-1860) from 1840 to 1846, during which time he assisted him on the new Palace at Westminster. From 1847 to 1872 he was in partnership with Robert Richardson Banks (1812?-1872) as Banks & Barry in London. He subsequently collaborated on projects with his brother, Edward Middleton Barry (1830-1880).
Barry acted as a Commissioner at two of the International Exhibitions at South Kensington, and was appointed British Commissioner for Architecture in the Fine Arts section of the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1878. In recognition of his services on that occasion the French Government, at the recommendation of the Prince of Wales, created him an officer of the Légion d'honneur.
He was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1846 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1854. He was President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (PRIBA) from 1876 to 1879. He was awarded the Royal Gold Medal in 1877. He died at 6 Victoria Terrace, Worthing, Sussex, 2 June 1900
Barry was Surveyor to Durwich College Estate from 1858 and designed the New College (1866–70). He also designed St Stephen's Church in south Dulwich (1867–75); Façade of Burlington House, Piccadilly, London (1869-73);Stevenstone House, Devon (1869-74); the mausoleum of Wynn Ellis in Whitstable (1872). With Banks he designed Bylaugh Hall in Norfolk (1849–52); The Pump House in the Italian Gardens in Hyde Park, London (1860); and the forecourt and various offices at Burlington House in London (1869-73). With Edward Middleton Barry he designed new chambers at Inner Temple in London (1879); and the Great Eastern Hotel at Liverpool Street Station in London (1884)
'Charles Barry'. Architect vol. 63, 1900 p. 362
Charles Barry Junior and the Dulwich College. London: Dulwich Picture Gallery, 1986
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
Girouard, Mark. The Victorian Country House. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, revised and enlarged edition, 1979
'Obituary'. American Architect & Building News vol. 69, 1900 p. 24
'Obituary'. Architect & Contract Reporter 8 June 1900 p. 362
'Obituary'. The Builder vol. 78, 9 June 1900 p. 571
'Obituary'. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of London vol. 18, 1901 p. 339
'Obituary'. Royal Institute of British Architects Journal vol. 7, 1900 p. 409
Stratton, Arthur. 'The Royal Exchange, London'. Architectural Review vol. 42, September 1917 pp. 45-50 [Designed by Charles Barry, Jnr. and built in 1883-84]