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.