 He made his studies at the Jesuit College, St. Omer's, and entered the Society of Jesus at Watten in 1632.He was sent to the English mission in 1644 and worked on the London district for thirty-five years, becoming, in the beginning of 1678, its superior.On the outbreak of the Plot, Barrow was one of the most sought-after of the alleged plotters, although his use of the alias Harcourt caused the Government great confusion, as for no clear reason several other Jesuits also used it.