His father, the prebendary of Durham Cathedral and rector of Sedgefield, inherited the viscountcy in 1813 following the death of his elder brothers, William and Richard.

[citation needed] Barrington was educated at Charterhouse School in Godalming, Surrey, before earning a law degree at Christ Church, Oxford.

Resigning from the service, he landed in Cape Town in February 1842, and bought a 2,188-hectare (5,410-acre) estate named 'Portland' near Knysna from Thomas Henry Duthie, who had inherited the property from his father-in-law George Rex, for £400.

The building of Portland Manor lasted 16 years, and included eight bedrooms, a library, and a large dining room.

He also constructed one of the earliest sawmills for cutting Black Stinkwood, experimented with silkworms and bees, and grew apples with a view to producing cider.

His interest in silk production and mulberry trees as food plants led to his being featured in South African writer Dalene Matthee’s novel, "Moerbeibos" ('Mulberry Forest').