If anyone is searching for the muse (or inspiration) behind Huckleberry Finn, they should visit the life of a British Rower called Stanley Duff Muttlebury. Muttlebury attended Eton college - visited and studied by Mark Twain on his European tours; going on then to Cambridge University where he was the only man to row in the Oxford v. Cambridge Boat Race five times between 1886-1890. He was additionally, the only man to win four races in a row.
Stanley Muttlebury's great-great grandaughter called Rebecca Muttlebury, visited the Boat Race in April 2007 and was interviewed by the Cambridge News. Older family members held the legend passed on by Stanley that when Muttlebury met Mark Twain, the latter was fascinated by such an unusual name and tried a bit of wordplay, calling him Huckleberry. It was also said that they rowed together which would make some sense, Stanley Muttlebury being renowned for his rowing skills and Mark Twain being experienced as a river pilot on the Mississipi. On departure, Twain told Muttlebury he would write a book about him; seemingly Muttlebury becoming the Americanised Huckleberry and the oar or blade, was changed to Finn.