James G. Barry

Upon coming to the United States, Barry started his career as a real estate agent, primarily located in St. Louis.

On May 17, 1849, a small fire broke out and quickly spread, causing approximately five million dollars in damage.

Beginning on one of the steamboats in the St. Louis embankment, it soon spread to destroying twenty-three boats and the majority of the business district.

This committee was given the fifty thousand dollars from the City council and worked with Barry to establish strong quarantine regulations and other means of protection.

In 1867 Barry traveled on the steamship Quaker City on a five month trip to Europe and the Holy Land, along with fellow passenger Mark Twain.

Although Barry isn't mentioned by name in the book, at least one story attributed to the fictional character Blucher in the book (riding a horse towards a mosque), was based on something that happened to Barry while he and Twain were visiting Tangier, based on a letter Twain wrote to his mother about the incident.