Thomas Barry

Thomas Barry (c. 1810 – 23 March 1857) was an Irish circus clown. He worked with various circuses but was associated most with Astley's Circus. Barry was a traditional "buffoon" whiteface clown whose performances were based on physical humour. In 1844 he featured in a famous stunt whereby he appeared to be towed along the River Thames in a tub pulled by four geese. Barry left Astley's Circus in 1848 after falling-out with another clown, though he later returned, he retired permanently in 1856 after another disagreement. Whilst out of the circus Barry was landlord of the Crown Tavern in Lambeth.

Early life and career Thomas Barry was born in Ireland in around 1810. Barry joined Sam Wild's Circus in 1837 and performed in Swansea, Wales with Samwell's Circus and Cornwall's Royal Circus.

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. However, he also performed with horses as an equestrian clown. 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. 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.

Leaving Astley's 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.

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. From 1853–54 he was with Hernandez and Stone's Circus, though he continued to perform at Astley's Circus throughout this time.

Barry left Astley's Circus for the final time in 1856 when he was denied the first choice of parts in the show. Barry died on 26 March 1857 and is buried in West Norwood Cemetery.