Phineas Taylor “P. T.” Barnum (1810–91) was an American hoax artist, showman, and circus impresario. As America’s greatest showman of the 19th century, he practically invented popular commercial entertainment in America.
Born in Bethel, Connecticut, Barnum was a newspaper publisher before creating a sensation with his first exhibit (1835) by presenting an elderly African American woman as George Washington’s 161-year old nurse. When interest started to wane, he drew more attendance by having a newspaper suggest that the woman was not human, but an “automaton” made of whalebone, Indian rubber, and springs.
In 1842, Barnum moved to New York City and opened the American Museum. It featured such “freak show” exhibits as Siamese twins Chang and Eng and General Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton,) a 25-inch tall man. In 1850, he turned opera impresario and brought Swedish soprano Jenny Lind to the United States for a hugely successful tour.
In 1881, Barnum’s traveling circus show merged with James A. Bailey’s circus to become the famous Barnum and Bailey “Greatest Show on Earth.” Before he died at age 81, he successfully persuaded the Evening Sun, a New York newspaper, to print his obituary so he could enjoy reading it before he died.
Barnum’s autobiographical works include The Life of P.T. Barnum: Written By Himself (1855) and Art of Money Getting, or, Golden Rules for Making Money (1880.) The 2017 American musical-film The Greatest Showman was based loosely on the life of Barnum.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by P. T. Barnum
I would rather hear the pleased laugh of a child over some feature of my exhibition than receive as I did the flattering compliments of the Prince of Wales.
—P. T. Barnum
Topics: Flattery
Those who really desire to attain an independence, have only set their minds upon it, and adopt the proper means, as they do in regard to any other object which they wish to accomplish, and the thing is easily done.
—P. T. Barnum
Topics: Desire, Desires
More persons, on the whole, are humbugged by believing in nothing, than by believing too much.
—P. T. Barnum
Topics: Belief
Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant.
—P. T. Barnum
Topics: Money
Every crowd has a silver lining.
—P. T. Barnum
Topics: Audiences
Every man after his fashion.
—P. T. Barnum
Whatever you do, do it with all your might. Work at it, early and late, in season and out of season, not leaving a stone unturned, and never deferring for a single hour that which can be done just as well now.
—P. T. Barnum
Topics: Enthusiasm, Work
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