John Henry

The hero of an American ballad, who pits himself against a steam drill, and succeeds in crushing more rock than the machine, but dies from the effort. He is known as ‘the black Paul Bunyan’.

John Henry (folklore), the "steel-driving man", is an African-American folk hero

Real people:

John Henry (senator) was an 18th century U.S. Senator from and Governor of Maryland John Henry (representative) is a 19th century U.S. Representative from Illinois John Flournoy Henry is a U.S. Representative from Kentucky John W. Henry is a speculator, money manager and principal owner of the Boston Red Sox John Henry (toxicologist), toxicologist, professor at Imperial College London and a consultant to Britain's National Poisons Information Service John Henry (vocalist), vocalist in the metalcore band Darkest Hour John Henry (spy) (1776–1853), a British spy John Henry (Bailiff of Guernsey) (1446–1447), Bailiff of Guernsey John Henry (historian) is a historian of science associated with the Strong Programme John Henry (Australian politician) was an Australian politician

Works of fiction:

John Henry (novel) is a 1931 novel by Roark Bradford, based on the African-American folk hero of the same name (see above). John Henry Days is a 2002 American novel by Colson Whitehead, which explores the story of the African American folk hero John Henry. John Henry (play) is a Broadway play based on the above novel, and later a musical featuring John Henry (album) is a 1994 rock album by They Might Be Giants John Henry Irons, better known as the superhero Steel.