Barbier was born on 3 December 1754 in Strasbourg and entered military service as a second lieutenant in the regiment of Hussars Chamborant, part of the second Army.
[1] Barbier became lieutenant in 1785 and participated in the campaigns of the Revolution of 1792 and 1793 in the Army of the North, attaining the rank of captain on January 25, 1792.
Barbier was subsequently acquitted and reinstated to his position by Denis-Étienne Laurent on 10 February 1794.
[1] He participated in the Prussian campaign (1806) and a few days before the Battle of Jena-Auerstadt, he was promoted to brigadier general on 7 October 1806.
[1] Appointed Baron of the Empire in 1808, he assigned in the Trasimène department to supervise recruitment and training.