James Barry, whose life we now write, acquired a considerable estate by commerce; and filled the civic honours of the city of Dublin, which he also represented in Parliament. The son, after he was called to the bar, practised for several years with reputation and success. In 1629 the king conferred upon him the office of his majesty's serjeant-at-law for the kingdom of Ireland, with a yearly fee of twenty pounds ten shillings. Lord Wentworth, afterwards Earl of Strafford, lord deputy of Ireland, soon perceived his talents, and took him under his protection; accordingly, Aug. 5, 1634, he appointed him second baron of the exchequer of Ireland, to hold during pleasure, with such fees, rewards, and profits, as Sir Robert Oglethorpe, Sir Lawrence Parsons, or Sir Gerard Lowther, or any other second baron, did or ought to receive. He soon after had the honour of knighthood conferred on him. This appointment in the exchequer he obtained through Lord Wentworth's friendship, in opposition to another candidate who had powerful recommendation from England. Of this kindness he was ever after grateful; and, in 1640, when the Parliament of Ireland were about to send over a deputation of their body to England to impeach the Earl of Strafford, he joined all his weight and interest with Sir James Ware, and other members of the House of Commons, to oppose that measure. The torrent was too violent to be withstood; and we hear little more of Sir James Barry, during the civil wars, until a little before the restoration of King Charles II. in 1660, when he was chairman of the convention which voted his majesty's restoration, without any previous conditions. In obtaining this vote, his influence and talents were instrumental; and accordingly we find him experiencing the gratitude of his sovereign, by being made lord chief justice of the King's Bench of Ireland, the 17th November of the same year. Nor was this the only honour bestowed on him; for, on the 18th of December following, the king issued a privy seal, in consideration of his eminent fidelity
