P. T. Barnum

P. T. Barnum

	Phineas Taylor Barnum reinvented the circus. His knowledge of what people want and how to make people think they want what he had was amazing. He constantly fooled people and had a way of making the customers come back. Barnum was ultimate salesman. He single handedly turned the circus into the "Greatest Show On Earth" it is today.

	P. T. Barnum was born in Bethel, Connecticut on July 5th 1810. He later called himself a "Yankee doodle dandy, plus one." He was the oldest of five, all raised in a typical Connecticut saltbox house, which is an average, large house, is that still stands today. His father, Philo Barnum, dabbled in several trades. His father owned his own dry goods store. Barnum's mom, Irena Taylor, was a housewife. The family was moderately well off.

	Barnum, as a child was influenced by a strict Protestant work ethic. He fallowed a type of Christianity called Congregationalism. Congregationalism was strict about working, learning and keeping yourself busy. Fun was a scarce commodity. About the only fun the church ever had were lotteries, but even those were rare. Also the town liked one-upping each other with outrageous pranks.

Phineas Taylor, who was Barnum's grandfather, was one of the most notorious jokers in Bethel and also one of the richest men. His longest running joke would be on Barnum. At the boys cresting, he deeded Barnum a piece of land called Ivy Island. For years Barnum herd stories about what a lucky young man he was to be given Ivy Island At the age of ten he set out to see the island himself. Barnum soon found out Ivy Island was named for poisoned ivy. It was an Island in the middle of swamp just east of Bethel. Barnum then learned that he was the unknowing butt of jokes for ten years. Barnum learned from this, although a bit angry, that people loved being humbugged.

He would attend school just long enough to maser basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills. At the age of eight Barnum became an apprentice for his father's dried good store. Although, sadly, in 1826 Barnum's father died. The fifteen year old was the family's only means of support. His father's store changed hands and he went to work for the new owner. Around this time Barnum met Charity Hollet.

Charity and Barnum soon got married in 1829 when Barnum was 19. Charity was a devout Congregationalist. ...

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...leaving eerie remains. All the animals died. He went into retirement and wrote an autobiography. The public ate it up. He also struck up a friendship with Nancy Fish, who was 40 years younger then him, when he was still living with his wife. In 1871 he ended his retirement.

He got back into the circus business with vengeance. He spent all his time promoting his circus. He wrote children books and sold them. Barnum ordered tents with three rings instead of the traditional one ring circus. He could fit thousands of people. He made it bigger and better. In 1872 he decided to call his show the "Greatest Show On Earth." In 1873 Charity died. A year later he married Nancy Fish who was 24 years old. In 1875 he became mayor of Bridgeport. He even considered running for president. James Baily owned the largest competing circus. He teamed up with Baily in 1880. The Barnum and Baily circus was created.

In 1890 in the fall he suffered a stroke wich confined him to bed. Sadly in 1891 April 7th Barnum died in his sleep at his 17 acre estate. He was a genius in business and promotion. He will always be immortal and he will be known for creating the "Greatest Show On Earth."