he was the youngest son of thomas barlow and his wife mary ann emmott, daughter of george emmott. his older brother was sir john barlow, 1st baronet. following private education, barlow went to pembroke college, cambridge, where he graduated with a bachelor of arts in 1889, and then to downing college, cambridge, where he made his master of arts in 1893. he was called to the bar by the inner temple in 1892 and worked in the south-eastern circuit.