A self-described “showman,” P.T. Barnum, born in 1810, is the “Barnum” behind Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which still tours and delights audiences to this day.

His books include The Art of Money Getting, or, Golden Rules for Making Money; Why I Am a Universalist; and several memoirs.

Barnum was the third son of Philo Barnum, a storekeeper, and his wife Irene. Barnum showed an early interest in business and entertainment, and as a teenager, he began working as a clerk in a general store. He also started his own business selling lottery tickets, and he later opened a small grocery store. In 1834, Barnum moved to New York City and began working as a showman. He started by exhibiting a blind and paralyzed slave woman named Joice Heth, whom he claimed was the 161-year-old former nurse of George Washington. Despite the claims being false, the exhibition was a huge success, and Barnum made a lot of money from it.

Barnum was not just a showman, but also a politician and an advocate for social causes. He was a member of the Connecticut legislature and later served as the mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was an advocate for abolitionism and women's suffrage, and he used his platform to promote these causes. He was also known for his philanthropy, including his support for the Tufts University and the Bridgeport Hospital. Despite the controversies surrounding some of his shows and promotions, Barnum left a lasting legacy as a pioneer in the entertainment industry and as a champion for social causes. He died in 1891, but his name and legacy continued to inspire future generations of entrepreneurs and entertainers.

The Art of Money Getting (1880)