He owned and ran the family cotton spinning and weaving factory in Rouen, one of the most important in the region.

He was responsible for building two bridges over the Seine, and for a policy of putting the indigent and insane to work in charitable workshops.

[4] The Barbets owned a factory in Rouen that spun Indian cotton and wove "indienne" cloth.

Later the "Barbet Frères" partnership was dissolved and Henri became sole owner of the family factory, which he expanded considerably.

[6] In 1842 Barbet acquired the large estate of Valmont in the valley of Fécamp, including parts of the communes of Mont-Saint-Aignan, Canteleu, Maromme, Notre-Dame-de-Bondeville and Sologne.

He converted to Catholicism, and he and his wife donated two stained glass windows to the Basilique Notre-Dame de Bonsecours.

[6] The Association pour la défense du Travail national was formed to oppose the lowering of tariffs.

[7] The council included Antoine Odier (President), Auguste Mimerel (Vice-President), Joseph Périer (Treasurer) and Louis-Martin Lebeuf (Secretary).

[10] As mayor of Rouen Barbet was responsible for opening the Pont d'Orléans (now the Corneille bridge), which connects the two banks of the Seine.

[2] Barbet was elected a Deputy for 1st constituency (Rouen) of Seine-Inférieure on 5 July 1831 for the government majority.

[3] During the Second French Empire Henri Barbet was elected to the Corps législatif for the dynastic majority group, holding office from 31 May 1863 to 27 April 1869.