Who was P. T. Barnum? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Phineas Taylor Barnum

Died At Age: 80

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Charity Hallet, Nancy Fish

father: Philo Barnum

mother: Irena Taylor

children: Caroline Cornelia Barnum, Frances Irena Barnum, Helen Maria Barnum, Pauline Taylor Barnum

Political Leaders American Men

political ideology: Democratic, Republican

Died on: April 7, 1891

place of death: Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States

Cause of Death: Stroke

U.S. State: Connecticut

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1

What was P. T. Barnum known for in the entertainment industry?

P. T. Barnum was known for being a showman and an entertainment entrepreneur, who founded the Barnum & Bailey Circus.
2

What impact did P. T. Barnum have on the world of marketing and advertising?

P. T. Barnum is credited with revolutionizing the world of marketing and advertising by using innovative tactics to promote his shows and attractions.
3

What was one of P. T. Barnum's most famous hoaxes or deceptions?

One of P. T. Barnum's most famous hoaxes was the "Feejee Mermaid," a taxidermy hoax that he presented as a real mermaid to attract audiences.
4

How did P. T. Barnum contribute to the popularization of the American circus?

P. T. Barnum played a significant role in popularizing the American circus by merging his show with that of James Bailey, creating the famous Barnum & Bailey Circus.
5

What was the philosophy behind P. T. Barnum's approach to entertainment and spectacle?

P. T. Barnum believed in providing entertainment that appealed to a wide audience, often incorporating elements of wonder, curiosity, and spectacle into his shows.

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Childhood & Early Life

Phineas Taylor Barnum was born in Connecticut, United States to Philo Barnum, a store keeper and Irene Taylor. During his childhood he would attend the congregational church in Bethel and attend prayer meetings.

He served as a clerk for a brief period at the Universalist Church in Danbury, Connecticut and also gave speeches on Christian Universalism at Universalist gatherings.

Before moving to New York, he worked as a clerk in his father’s country store and ran a fruit and confectionary store.

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Career

In 1829, he founded ‘The Herald of Freedom’, a weekly paper based in Danbury, Connecticut that reported the growing religious oppression and militant Calvinism.

His publications in ‘The Herald of Freedom’ were against the church, due to which many libel suits were filed against him. As a result, he was prosecuted and imprisoned for two months.

He moved to New York and began his career as a showman in 1835 and founded his first ‘variety group’, ‘Barnum's Grand Scientific and Musical Theater’.

In 1841, he bought the Scudder's American Museum at Broadway and Ann Street, New York City and renamed it to ‘Barnum's American Museum’, where he made his first fortune.

In 1842, he introduced the ‘Feejee mermaid’, a creature with the head of a monkey and a fish tail. He also exhibited Charles Stratton, a dwarf, who was known by the name of ‘General Tom Thumb’.

In 1843, he became the first showman to hire traditional Native American dancers called ‘Fu-Hum-Me’. These dancers always managed to amuse and attract a large audience.

From 1844 to 1845, he toured Europe along with ‘General Tom Thumb’. This tour acted as his vehicle of publicity and attracted attention from Queen Victoria and the Czar of Russia.

In 1865, he was elected to the Connecticut legislature as a Republican candidate for Fairfield, where he served two terms.

In 1871, he established ‘P. T. Barnum's Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan & Hippodrome’ along with the William Cameron Coup. This was considered the largest circus in America at the time.

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In 1875, he became the mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut and served this position for a period of one year, during which time he worked to improve water supply and prostitution laws.

In 1881, he advertised for a show with the famous expression- ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’. This was the first circus to install three rings, which made it the largest circus in the world and the first one to be called the ‘three-ring circus’.

Major Works

His ‘Barnum & Bailey Circus’ hosted a three ring show called ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’, which was considered the largest circus in the world.

In 1952, an Academy Award-winning film, inspired by this circus, titled ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’, was directed by Cecil B. DeMille.

Awards & Achievements

He was ranked 67th on the list of ‘100 most influential figures in American History’ in an American magazine.

Personal Life & Legacy

At the age of 19, he married Charity Hallet and the couple had four children together.

In 1878, he founded the Bridgeport Hospital and was elected as it first president.

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In 1883, he donated a sum of $50,000 for the building of a hall and museum at the Department of Natural History, Tufts University, Massachusetts.

Published in 1854, his autobiography, ‘The Life of P.T. Barnum’, narrates the touching story of his early life and struggles.

In 1890, he suffered from a stroke during one of his performances.

He died in his sleep at the age of 80 and is interred at Mountain Grove Cemetery, Bridgeport, Connecticut.

In 1893, a statue in his honour was erected at the Seaside Park, Connecticut.

In 1907, the ‘Ringling Brothers’ bought the ‘Barnum and Bailey circus’ for $ 400,000 and they merged it with their company in 1919, to form the ‘Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus’.

Facts About P. T. Barnum

Barnum was a strong advocate for animal welfare and was one of the first circus owners to implement humane treatment practices for animals in his shows.

Barnum was a successful politician and served as a member of the Connecticut State Legislature, where he worked on initiatives to improve education and infrastructure in his community.

He was a pioneer in the world of marketing and advertising, using innovative tactics to promote his circus and attract audiences, such as creating larger-than-life posters and organizing elaborate parades.

Barnum had a deep interest in science and technology, and he often showcased cutting-edge inventions and exhibits at his museums and shows to educate and entertain his audiences.

Despite his reputation as a showman, Barnum was also a philanthropist who made significant donations to various charitable causes, including supporting hospitals and educational institutions.

P. T. Barnum Biography

You wanted to know

What was P. T. Barnum known for in the entertainment industry?

What impact did P. T. Barnum have on the world of marketing and advertising?

What was one of P. T. Barnum's most famous hoaxes or deceptions?

How did P. T. Barnum contribute to the popularization of the American circus?

What was the philosophy behind P. T. Barnum's approach to entertainment and spectacle?