The son of the brewer Robert Barrett, he was born in Farnham in 1855.[1] Barrett was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in the 18th Surrey Volunteer Rifle Corps on 8 December 1875,[2] with his promotion to lieutenant in March 1878 being antedated to the date he received his commission.[3] By August 1882, he was volunteering in the 4th Surrey, gaining the rank of captain.[4] Two years later he was volunteering with the 2nd Surrey, with Barrett gaining the rank of major in April 1888 and being appointed an aide-de-camp in September of the same year.[5][6] In December 1895, he was granted the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel;[7] the following month he was decorated with the Volunteer Officers' Decoration.[8] He would command a local volunteer company and during the First World War he would volunteer as a transport officer, supervising the transit of troops to the Western Front.[1]
In his youth, Barrett partook in both athletics and cricket in Farnham.[1] A member of the Farnham United Cricket Club,[1] he made two appearances in first-class cricket for Hampshire in 1885 against Surrey at The Oval, and Sussex at Hove.[9] In these, he scored 22 runs with a highest score of 13 not out,[10] while going wicketless with the ball.[11]
Like his father, Barrett was also involved in brewing. In later life, he was the chairman of Farnham United Breweries.[12] In his final years, he would reside in Sandbanks, Dorset.[1] On 2 December 1921, Barrett was seriously injured when the vehicle he was travelling in collided with another near Bagshot. His wife, Ella,[13] and their chauffeur were uninjured, however Barrett received a fractured skull, amongst other injuries. Despite an operation, he succumbed to his injuries at The Duchess of Connaught Memorial Nursing Home in Bagshot on 19 January 1922.[1] He was cremated two days later at Farnham Cemetery.[1] Aside from being survived by his wife, he was also survived by a son, Edward junior, who played first-class cricket and rugby union at international level.