1. Richard Barre was educated at the law school of Bologna and entered royal service under King Henry II of England, later working for Henry's son and successor Richard I Richard Barre was briefly in the household of Henry's son Henry the Young King.
Richard Barre was archdeacon of Ely and the author of a work of biblical extracts dedicated to one of his patrons, William Longchamp, the Bishop of Ely and Chancellor of England.
Whether Richard Barre was a native of England or of Normandy is unknown, but his surname appears to derive from the Norman village of La Richard Barre, near Bernay, in the present-day department of Eure.
Richard Barre was likely born around 1130 and was related to Normandy's Sifrewast family, knights in Berkshire.
Richard Barre had a relative, Hugh Richard Barre, who was Archdeacon of Leicester in the 1150s.
Richard Barre studied law at Bologna in Italy before 1150 and was a student there with Stephen of Tournai, who became Bishop of Tournai in 1192.
The historian Frank Barlow argues that Richard Barre was not specifically named in the restoration of excommunications, as Becket considered him already excommunicated because of his association with those under the church's ban.
Richard Barre was at first refused a meeting with Alexander, but eventually the envoys were allowed to meet with the pope.
Shortly afterwards Richard Barre was granted the office of Archdeacon of Lisieux, probably as a reward for his efforts in Rome in 1171.
Richard Barre was named chancellor to King Henry's eldest living son Henry for a brief period in 1172 and 1173, but when the younger Henry rebelled against his father and sought refuge at the French royal court, Barre refused to join him in exile and returned to the king's service.
Richard Barre continued to hold the archdeaconry at Lisieux until 1188, and was at Lisieux for most of the late 1170s and 1180s.
Richard Barre carried letters to the three rulers requesting passage through their lands and the right to procure supplies.
Longchamp's exile meant that Barre did not serve as a royal justice again until King Richard I returned to England in 1194.
Richard Barre was one of the main royal justices between 1194 and 1199.
Richard Barre maintained his friendship with Stephen of Tournai, who corresponded with him later in their lives.
Richard Barre wrote a work on the Bible entitled Compendium de veteri et novo testamento, which he dedicated to Longchamp.