Thomas Barry (clown)

Thomas Barry was born in Ireland in around 1810.[1] He was married to Elizabeth Campbell (died 1873), an actress who performed at Sadler's Wells Theatre and in Marylebone.[1][2] Barry's son, also called Thomas Barry, was born in Manchester in 1839 – he would later also perform as a circus clown.[1][3] Barry joined Sam Wild's Circus in 1837 and performed in Swansea, Wales with Samwell's Circus and Cornwall's Royal Circus.[1][2] The townspeople rewarded his performance by commissioning an oil portrait of Barry that was presented to him "as a mark of their esteem of his public & private worth".[2]

From 1843 Barry worked at Astley's Circus as a whiteface circus clown, the start of a long association with that circus that would last until his death.[1] Barry's style of clowning has been described as traditional, playing the buffoon character and relying on physical humour.[4][5] However, he also performed with horses as an equestrian clown.[6] His most famous sketch was an impression of a parliamentary candidate speaking at a hustings. Barry's whiteface makeup included a small red outline to the mouth, red triangles on his cheeks, black eyebrows and a bald cap.[1]

Barry's character was described by an employer as jovial and good-natured.[1] The young W. S. Gilbert was a fan of Barry's as a child and once, starstruck upon recognising him, followed him down a street.[7] In 1844 Barry took part in a stunt where he sailed down the Thames between Vauxhall and Westminster in a tub pulled by four geese.[1] The trick, first devised by Dicky Usher in 1809, was achieved by having the tub pulled by a rowboat attached by an underwater line.[8][1] The stunt was popular at the time; in 1845 a similar trick performed by another clown, Arthur Nelson, caused the deaths of 79 people when a large crowd caused the collapse of Yarmouth suspension bridge.[9]

Barry reached the height of his fame in 1847 by which point he had become a long-term fixture at Astley's Circus. However, the next year he fell out with W. F. Wallett, a clown at the circus.[1] Wallett was pioneering the more sophisticated Shakespearian clown role in his performances.[5] Barry demanded the right to choose which parts Wallett would be allocated to play in the show but this was denied and he left Astley's Circus.[10] He was replaced as principal clown by Wallett, who described the situation as arising from Barry's jealousy.[5][10]

Leaving the circus behind Barry took on the running of the Crown Tavern in Lambeth, where he was landlord until 1850. In 1849 he found work for a 9-week season at Hengler's Circus in Windsor and by the early 1850s he had returned to Astley's Circus on a wage of £10 per week. He appeared before a court at Lambeth in 1850 charged with assaulting William Henry Harvey, the ballet master at Astley's.[1] In 1853 Barry worked at Madame Macarte's Monster American Circus in Wolverhampton and E. T. Smith's Circus in Drury Lane, London.[1][11] From 1853–54 he was with Hernandez and Stone's Circus, though he continued to perform at Astley's Circus throughout this time.[1][12]

Barry left Astley's Circus for the final time in 1856 when he was denied the first choice of parts in the show.[1] He returned to managing the Crown Tavern, where he was landlord until his death.[1] In 1857 he was known to be unwell and William Cooke, the manager of Astley's Circus, hosted a benefit show for Barry, providing free use of a venue.[13] Barry died on 26 March 1857 and is buried in West Norwood Cemetery.[1]