Robert Barry (c. 1759 – 3 September 1843) was a teacher and merchant, among other pursuits, who became an important figure in Nova Scotia.
[1] Barry was born in Scotland, raised in England and came to North America as an impressed sailor who escaped his ship in New York in about 1774.
Little is known about his life there other than he was in a business partnership, he was a participant in Methodist services at the John Street Chapel and formed a friendship with the Reverend Charles Inglis, the rector of Trinity Church where he was a regular communicant.
In 1783, Barry was part of a large group of loyalists, including many Methodists, who left New York and ended up in Nova Scotia.
His one son, John Alexander Barry married a daughter of William Black, a prominent Methodist minister and was elected to the 13th General Assembly of Nova Scotia.