henry carr was born in lagos, british nigeria on 15 august 1863 to amuwo carr and rebecca carr, liberated saro emigrants of yoruba extraction. amuwo carr died in abeokuta when henry was seven years old, leaving rebecca carr in charge of young henry's education. henry attended wesleyan school, olowogbowo for his elementary education. he was sponsored by reverend t.b. thomas, a close friend of his mother, to attend wesleyan highs school in freetown, british sierra leone for his secondary education. in sierra leone, he attended fourah bay college where he received an honours degree in 1880. he was the first graduate of the school to achieve the feat. he then went to england and signed up for courses at lincoln's inn, st. mark's college, chelsea, (now university of st mark & st john) and the royal college of science, south kensington. thereafter, he graduated with an honors b.a. in mathematics and physical science at durham university in 1882. in 1906 he took a b.c.l degree at lincoln's inn and in the same year was made chancellor of the diocese of western equatorial africa. henry carr was married to the former henrietta robbin.