Henry Fry was born on June 5, 1826, in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England.
He was a ship-broker, ship owner, and commission merchant. He grew up close to the sea and apprenticed in the Bristol shipping brokerage firm of Mark Whitwill. By age 19, he was conducting business for Whitwill's in Wales and London. In 1851, he became a partner in Whitwell's and in 1853, Whitwill's sent him to oversee the salvaging of two ships in Quebec. By 1856, he had severed his connection with Whitwill's and established himself as a broker, ship owner, and commission merchant in Quebec City. He bought and sold many ships in his lifetime establishing a long and profitable relationship with the Quebec shipbuilding industry. Fry served on many business and community boards in Quebec City related to trade, education, the Baptist Church, and public services. He was a director of the Quebec Bank (1864–1878), a trustee of the Quebec High School (1866–1877), treasurer of the Quebec Literary & Historical Society, president of the YMCA (1870–1878) and committee member of the YWCA (1875–1877), treasurer of the Baptist Church (1875–1877) and of the Quebec City Mission (1870–1877). he wrote and published several works on steam ships, shipping and North Atlantic navigation as well as treatises illustrated with his meticulous drawings of ships, and memoirs, including "Essays and Reminiscences".

In 1858, he married Mary Jane Dawson (1836–1932). He died on February 27, 1896, in Sweetsburg, Quebec.