About
P. T. Barnum, born July 5, 1810, in Bethel, Connecticut, and died April 7, 1891, in Bridgeport, was an entertainment entrepreneur and politician. He caused a sensation with attractions such as Joice Heth, General Tom Thumb, and the Feejee Mermaid, then launched the American tour of soprano Jenny Lind. In 1841, he acquired Scudder's American Museum in New York City, transforming it into a popular spectacle. With James A. Bailey, he co-founded the Barnum & Bailey Circus, billed as 'The Greatest Show on Earth.' He served as mayor of Bridgeport and founded the city's hospital. Author of an autobiography and works on the art of money-getting, he called himself the 'Prince of Humbugs.'
* 1810-07-05 — † 1891-04-07
Major works
- The Life of P. T. Barnum, Written by Himself (1855)autobiography
- The Humbugs of the World (1865)essay
- Struggles and Triumphs (1869)autobiography
- The Art of Money-Getting (1880)essay
Key milestones
- 1841Acquires Scudder's American Museum in New York City, renaming it Barnum's American Museum.
- 1850Organizes the American tour of soprano Jenny Lind, after an unprecedented publicity campaign.
- 1881Co-founds the Barnum & Bailey Circus with James A. Bailey, billed as 'The Greatest Show on Earth.'
Themes
Showmanship and entertainmentPublicity and marketingHumbug and hoaxEntrepreneurship19th-century American life
Sources: britannica.com · archives.nypl.org · oxfordreference.com
