Born in 1726[1] or 1728,[2] he was the eldest son of Dr. William Barnard, Bishop of Raphoe (later of Derry).

[1][6] The principal consecrator was Charles Agar, Archbishop of Cashel, and the principal co-consecrators were William Newcome, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore and Isaac Mann, Bishop of Cork and Ross.

[1] Fourteen years later, he was translated to the bishopric of Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe;[7] having been nominated to the see on 14 August 1794 and by letters patent on 12 September 1794.

[3][6] He was a member of the Literary Club, and well known as the friend of Samuel Johnson, Oliver Goldsmith, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Edmund Burke, Bishop Thomas Percy, and other literary characters of his day.

[2] He married Anne Browne of County Carlow in 1758 and secondly Jane Ross-Lewin.