Dr. James Barry (formerly Margaret Ann Bulkley)
Finally, we leave with the story of a woman who made it through an entire career in the British army – as a man. Her name at birth was Margaret Ann Bulkley, but the name that has been known most in history was James Barry. Bulkley was born in Ireland in 1789. Her mother was the sister of James Barry who was a celebrated artist at London’s Royal Academy. The young Bulkley was educated to become a tutor but struggled to find a position. Instead, he applied to medical school at the University of Edinburgh. It was at this point that Bulkley became Barry and would remain so for the next 56 years!
To aid in his transition, any letters addressed to “Margaret” would be forwarded to his mother whom he then began calling his “aunt.” Barry did struggle to be accepted at medical school – his short stature, young voice, and delicate features made some suspect that he was too young to apply – but his efforts were successful when he passed his examinations at the Royal College of Surgeons to become one in 1813. Following this, Barry joined the army and began military training.
In 1816, Barry was given his first post in Cape Town, South Africa. There he was noted as performing the first known successful Caesarian section where both the mother and child survived. In November 1827, Barry was promoted and then went on to serve in Mauritius, Jamaica, St. Helena, and then the West Indies. His ultimate position was when he was made Inspector General of Hospitals in Canada (equivalent to a Brigadier General). In this post, Barry made it his business to ensure that patients received proper food and that sanitation was made a priority. Barry himself held strict views and was a lifelong vegetarian and teetotaler.
Barry was forced into retirement due to ill health in 1859 and eventually died of dysentery in 1865. It was then that an attempt to expose his gender identity was made by a woman who may have been involved in preparing Barry’s body for burial. In an attempt to suppress this scandalous knowledge, the British army decided to seal his records for 100 years. It was by then that historians began to shed light on the truth about Barry’s gender and incredible life-long deception.
