Barry, William (1841–75), journalist, was born in Co. Cork, one of at least two sons, probably of an innkeeper. After an apprenticeship on a Cork newspaper, he worked in Dublin and subsequently in London (1865), where, arriving quite unknown, he quickly established himself, succeeding William Black (1841–98) as editor of the London Review. He contributed articles (mostly unsigned) to various newspapers, including the Daily News, of which he was special correspondent in Paris, the Pall Mall Gazette, and the Macmillan Magazine, in which he wrote an interesting article, ‘The street ballads of Ireland’ (xxv (1872), 190–99), and was appointed (1873) chief London correspondent to the Leeds Mercury. He published two books of essays, Moorland and stream with notes and prose idylls on shooting and trout fishing (1871), and Sporting rambles and holiday papers (1873), which gained great popularity and vividly described men and manners, the joys of the rod and gun, and the beauties of nature. He was described as good-looking, amiable, lively in conversation, with a great sense of fun.
Barry died 10/11 April 1875 of consumption at his home, 23 Crowhurst Rd., Brixton, London. No evidence of marriage has been found. Black, his patron and friend, who nursed him during his long illness, wrote the novel Shandon bells (1885) as a memorial and dedicated it to him; the hero, Willie Fitzgerald, is based on Barry.