Charles Barry

Sir Charles Barry (1795-1860) was an English architect, best known for his role in the rebuilding of the Houses of Parliament in his home city of London. He was educated privately and worked as a surveyor's apprentice. Travels in Italy in his early twenties inspired him to imitate Renaissance architecture. He designed several private clubs, including the Reform and the Manchester Athenaeum, before being employed as architect for the new Palace of Westminster. For the latter, he used drawings by the young August Pugin. Several of Barry's sons followed in his career footsteps, and one, Edward, completed the Parliament buildings.