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Francis Renton Barry was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, a son of the Reverend Francis Renton Barry (1853-1926) and Marion Laidlaw Barry née Thompson (1858-1920). His father was a Presbyterian Minister. The 1887 electoral register lists his father at 4 Hamilton Place, Aberdeen and the 1891 census confirms this was still the family address and shows him living there with his parents and siblings, Edward William Barry and Agnes Anaple Barry.

Electoral registers from later in 1891 show the family had moved to 36 Hamilton Place, Aberdeen and the 1901 census shows him living there with his parents and both siblings.

Educated at Aberdeen Grammar School, he enlisted in the army as a private on 12 October 1914, giving his occupation as an architect. His parents were shown as living at 60 Mount Ararat Road, Richmond, Surrey. He was transferred to the 70th Provisional Battalion on 18 June 1915 for Home Service at Leigh-on-Sea, Essex due to an inadequate chest measurement. The rules then changed so he successfully applied for a commission which he received on 26 November 1915. At the time of his death he was a Lieutenant with the 5th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment but was Acting Captain with the 12th (Service) Battalion, East Surrey Regiment.

He was , aged 30 years, on 4 September 1918 and was buried near where he fell. On 4 November 1919 his body was exhumed and in Plot 15, Row K, Grave 1 in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's  Voormezeele Enclosure No.3 burial ground at Wittenhuisstraat, Ypres (now known as Ieper), Belgium. 

Probate records confirm his home address was 6 Ennerdale Road, Kew Gardens, Surrey and that when probate was granted to his sister on 21 May 1919 his effects totalled £600-13s-5d. His army effects totalling £156-17s-0d, including his £7-0s-0d war gratuity, were sent to his sister on 4 November 1919. He is also commemorated on the Aberdeen Grammar School Roll of Honour 1914-1918. 

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