TheBiglin Brothers: John (died April 19, 1886[1]), James (1851–1917), and Bernard ["Barney"] (1840–1924) were brothers from New York active in professionalrowing during the decade following theAmerican Civil War, when rowing was one of America's most popular spectator sports. John and Barney were the subject of a series of eleven paintings byThomas Eakins.
In July 1865 the AmericanChampionships took place inPoughkeepsie, New York. A crowd of more than 20,000 lined the riverbanks, and more than 10,000 people wagered an estimated $100,000 on the race. The trouble started when theBiglin Brothers’ four man team (consisting of the brothers andDennis Leary) defeated a local crew consisting of William Stevens, Homer Wooden,William Burger, and Ezekiel Beneway. The losing boat protested that it was cut off at the finish. The referee and judges were rushed to the Poughkeepsie Hotel to rule on the race. The officials gave the race to the Biglin Brothers, and barely escaped with their lives. Because of the results the city descended into a riot as fights broke out between supporters of the rival crews. Detectives from New York City brought in to keep the peace had little impact.[2]
The Biglin Brothers were quickly challenged to a race on a five-mile course atSing Sing by Josh Ward, who had organized a four-man team from his brothers, Gil, Charles, and Hank.[3]
On September 25, theWard brothers beat the Biglin brothers for the professional four-oared championship of America.[4]
In 1872, John and Barney challenged any English rowing pair to a race. No English team stepped forward, but a team fromPittsburgh,Pennsylvania, ofHenry Coulter and Lewis Cavitt accepted the challenge. The five-mileSchuylkill River course started at the Columbia Bridge and went to the Girard Avenue Bridge and back. One of Thomas Eakins' many paintings of the brothers, "The Biglin Brothers Turning the Stake-Boat", depicts the midpoint of the race. The brothers won by one minute and were proclaimed world champions. The race was covered by numerous newspapers and magazines, includingThe New York Times and brought the brothers considerable fame.[5]
Barney Biglin was a member of theNew York State Assembly (New York Co., 18th D.) in1873 and1874.
