He served the federal government as Solicitor of the United States Treasury and Chargé d'affaires in Chile.
[4][5] He apparently served in the militia, in that he was often referred to in correspondence and press accounts as "Colonel", though the exact details of his military service are not currently known.
[9] Barton moved to New Orleans, Louisiana in 1830, where he continued to practice law[10][11] as a partner of Judah P.
[12] In 1843 he ran unsuccessfully for the Louisiana House of Representatives,[13] and in 1844 he supported James K. Polk for President, including writing letters to the editor under the pen name John Randolph of Roanoke.
[20][21][22] After leaving office, Barton resumed practicing law in New Orleans as the partner of Pierre Soulé.