George Christopher Trout Bartley was born on November 22, 1842, in Hackney, Middlesex, England.

He was an English civil servant, banker, and Conservative politician. Educated at Clapton, London, and University College School, he entered public service and worked for twenty years at the Science and Art Department, eventually becoming Assistant Director. He had a keen interest in poverty and social issues, publishing works on education and building self-reliance. Additionally, he supported technical education and served as the treasurer of the Society of Arts. He was a Justice of the Peace for Middlesex and Westminster. Bartley ran for Parliament in Hackney during the 1880 general election but was unsuccessful. However, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Islington North in the 1885 general election and held that seat until his defeat in 1906. He announced his intention to stand again when a suitable opportunity arose and contested the Kingston upon Hull West by-election in November 1907. This election saw the first intervention of a Labour Party candidate, which cut the Liberal majority, but not enough to secure victory for Bartley. After his defeat in Hull, he did not stand for Parliament again. Bartley was also a member of the Traffic Commission and travelled extensively.

Bartley was in South Africa when the Second Boer War broke out in 1899. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the November 1902 Birthday Honours list and received the insignia from King Edward VII at Buckingham Palace on December 18, 1902.In 1864, he married Mary Charlotte Cole (1841–1927).

He died on September 13, 1910, in London, England.