George Barstow (June 19, 1812 – September 9, 1883) was a professor, lawyer, historian, and politician who served in the California State Assembly in the 1860s and 1870s.
While writing the book, Barstow played a part in the history of the Latter Day Saint movement, when he contacted a friend, John Wentworth, asking for information about the Mormon faith.
While living in Boston, Barstow was a failed Democratic candidate for the Massachusetts General Court and for the U.S. House of Representatives.
He then moved back to New Hampshire and then to New York City before he arrived in San Francisco in 1858 where he was a professor of medical jurisprudence at the University of the Pacific.
Barstow left the Assembly in 1865, but was re-elected from the 10th district as a Democrat in 1877, holding the office until 1879.