Born in the Duchies of Bremen and Verden, he subsequently emigrated to the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1717 as the apprentice of a wool merchant.

Originally having planned to return to Bremen after his apprenticeship, he decided to stay in England, where he obtained citizenship in 1723 and Anglicised his first name from Johann to John.

John married Elizabeth Vowler (1702–1766), the daughter of a prosperous Exeter grocer, who brought with her a large dowry of £20,000 and business sense to match that of her new husband.

38 Holloway Street, Exeter, having been largely demolished by 19th century road-widening[6]) and thirty seven acres of land, then just outside the city.

By the time of John's death aged fifty-one, the Barings were one of the wealthiest families in the West Country.