Alexander Henry Freeland Barbour was born in Edinburgh, the youngest son of G F Barbour of Bonskeid, Perthshire. He was educated at the University of Edinburgh, earning an MA in 1875, BSc in 1877, MB with honours in 1879, and MD in 1883, for which he was awarded a gold medal. He undertook postgraduate study in France, Germany, and Italy. He specialised in obstetrics and gynaecology and became Assistant to Professor Sir Alexander Russell Simpson.
