James Barry

James Barry was a pioneering British surgeon and medical officer in the 19th century. Notably, he was born female but lived his adult life as a man, which allowed him to serve openly in the military and pursue higher medical roles. Barry made significant contributions to healthcare, including advancing sanitation and medical practices in the British Army. His life highlighted issues of gender identity and social norms of the time, and his work in medicine left a lasting impact on military and public health.