Born in Ireland in 1819. He started out as a brush and comb maker at 118 Piccadilly London in 1846. By 1865 his company had expanded to several addresses 53 Albermarle St, 63 & 64 Piccadilly, 186 Oxford St and 29 St. Georges Pl and Edgware Road. By 1899 his sons had joined the company and expanded the premises further to neighbouring numbers on Albermarle st. Despite being listed as a brush manufacturer, A. Barrett manufactured trunks and travelling equipment and was also a retailer of silver items.