Alfred Constantine Barry (July 15, 1815 – March 5, 1888) was an American educator, politician, and Universalist minister.
[1] He was ordained a Universalist minister in 1836 and pastored for ten years at various locations around New York before bringing his ministry to Racine, Wisconsin Territory, in 1846.
[1] In June 1855, he was appointed Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin by Governor William A. Barstow, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Hiram A. Wright.
[2] At the outbreak of the American Civil War, he volunteered for service in the Union Army and was enrolled as chaplain of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, serving one year in that role.
In April 1864, after the end of the legislative session, he returned to active duty as chaplain for the 19th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment,[4] and served ten months with that regiment before receiving an appointment from President Abraham Lincoln to serve as chaplain of the United States Hospitals.