What is P. T. Barnum birthday?

P. T. Barnum was born at 1810-07-05

When was P. T. Barnum died?

P. T. Barnum was died at 1891-04-07

Where was P. T. Barnum died?

P. T. Barnum was died in Bridgeport

Which age was P. T. Barnum died?

P. T. Barnum was died at age 80

Where is P. T. Barnum's birth place?

P. T. Barnum was born in Bethel

What is P. T. Barnum nationalities?

P. T. Barnum's nationalities is American

Who is P. T. Barnum spouses?

P. T. Barnum's spouses is Charity Hallet, Nancy Fish

Who is P. T. Barnum childrens?

P. T. Barnum's childrens is Caroline Cornelia Barnum, Frances Irena Barnum, Helen Maria Barnum, Pauline Taylor Barnum

What is P. T. Barnum's political ideology?

P. T. Barnum's political ideology is Democratic, Republican

What is P. T. Barnum's religion?

P. T. Barnum's religion is Universalist

Who is P. T. Barnum's father?

P. T. Barnum's father is Philo Barnum

Who is P. T. Barnum's mother?

P. T. Barnum's mother is Irena Taylor

How famous is P. T. Barnum?

P. T. Barnum is famouse as American politician

P. T. Barnum - Politician, Birthday and Childhood

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Table of contents

Personal Details
Photo
Overview
Timeline
FAQ

Cancer Celebrities Millionaires American Business People

P. T. Barnum's Personal Details

Information	Detail
Birthday	July 5, 1810
Died on	April 7, 1891
Nationality	American
Famous	Millionaires, Business People, Politician
Spouses	Charity Hallet, Nancy Fish
Known as	P. T. Barnum
Childrens	Caroline Cornelia Barnum, Frances Irena Barnum, Helen Maria Barnum, Pauline Taylor Barnum
Birth Place	Bethel
Political Ideology	Democratic, Republican
Religion	Universalist
Gender	Male
Father	Philo Barnum
Mother	Irena Taylor
Net Worth	$8.5 million
Sun Sign	Cancer
Born in	Bethel
Famous as	American politician
Died at Age	80

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Who is P. T. Barnum?

P.T. Barnum was one of the most celebrated personalities who amused millions of people with his bizarre yet amusing showmanship. With an in-depth understanding of how to create curiosity and excite people, combined with the talent to package and create entertainment, he was aptly called the ‘Shakespeare of advertising’. This renowned showman invented the modern three-ring circus, which became the ‘largest circus of the world’ during the 19th century. Known for his trademark pranks and hoaxes, some of his best tricks include ‘The Feejee Mermaid’, ‘Tom Thumb’s Baby’, ‘The Cardiff Giant’, and ‘Free Grand Buffalo Hunt’. One of the wealthiest men of his times, his entrepreneurial skills and his ‘profitable philanthropy’ ventures earned him a good fortune. He also authored many books during his lifetime, including ‘Struggles and Triumphs’, ‘Art of Money-Getting’ and his autobiography, ‘The Life of P.T. Barnum’. Known for his achievements and creativity, Barnum is hailed as ‘the great American showman’ and his name lives on in the history of American circus legacy even today.

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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.

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.

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.

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’.

Trivia

This famous American showman gave permission to a newspaper to print his obituary just before his death, so that he could have a chance to read it or add to it if required.

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P. T. Barnum biography timelines

// 5th Jul 1810
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.
// 1829
In 1829, he founded ‘The Herald of Freedom’, a weekly paper based in Danbury, Connecticut that reported the growing religious oppression and militant Calvinism.
// 1835
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’.
// 1841
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.
// 1842
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’.
// 1843
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.
// 1844 To 1845
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.
// 1854
Published in 1854, his autobiography, ‘The Life of P.T. Barnum’, narrates the touching story of his early life and struggles.
// 1865
In 1865, he was elected to the Connecticut legislature as a Republican candidate for Fairfield, where he served two terms.
// 1871
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.
// 1875
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.
// 1878
In 1878, he founded the Bridgeport Hospital and was elected as it first president.
// 1881
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’.
// 1883
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.
// 1890
In 1890, he suffered from a stroke during one of his performances.
// 7th Apr 1891
He died in his sleep at the age of 80 and is interred at Mountain Grove Cemetery, Bridgeport, Connecticut.
// 1893
In 1893, a statue in his honour was erected at the Seaside Park, Connecticut.
// 1907 To 1919
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’.
// 1952
In 1952, an Academy Award-winning film, inspired by this circus, titled ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’, was directed by Cecil B. DeMille.

// Famous American peoples

P. T. Barnum's FAQ

What is P. T. Barnum birthday?
P. T. Barnum was born at 1810-07-05
When was P. T. Barnum died?
P. T. Barnum was died at 1891-04-07
Where was P. T. Barnum died?
P. T. Barnum was died in Bridgeport
Which age was P. T. Barnum died?
P. T. Barnum was died at age 80
Where is P. T. Barnum's birth place?
P. T. Barnum was born in Bethel
What is P. T. Barnum nationalities?
P. T. Barnum's nationalities is American
Who is P. T. Barnum spouses?
P. T. Barnum's spouses is Charity Hallet, Nancy Fish
Who is P. T. Barnum childrens?
P. T. Barnum's childrens is Caroline Cornelia Barnum, Frances Irena Barnum, Helen Maria Barnum, Pauline Taylor Barnum
What is P. T. Barnum's political ideology?
P. T. Barnum's political ideology is Democratic, Republican
What is P. T. Barnum's religion?
P. T. Barnum's religion is Universalist
Who is P. T. Barnum's father?
P. T. Barnum's father is Philo Barnum
Who is P. T. Barnum's mother?
P. T. Barnum's mother is Irena Taylor
What is P. T. Barnum's sun sign?
P. T. Barnum is Cancer
How famous is P. T. Barnum?
P. T. Barnum is famouse as American politician