Barker initially served as a midshipman aboard the Mississippi, was commissioned as an ensign in November 1862 and survived its sinking in March 1863.

In July 1883, Albert Barker was commander of the screw-sloop USS Enterprise while on the East Coast of Africa at Zanzibar.

Many vessels from these countries were employed in this trade process with America, such as the British man-of-war HMS London stationed at Zanzibar as a store ship.

[2] On October 26, 1894, Barker married Mary Ellen (Blackmar) Maxwell (1852–1938), the widow of a religious missionary who died in 1890 while the couple was in India.

[2] During the Spanish–American War, Barker commanded the cruiser USS Newark and participated in the bombardment of Santiago on July 1, 1898.