P. T. Barnum elephants in United States


P. T. Barnum
B&B winterquarters in Bridgeport
B&B winterquarters in Bridgeport

Typeprivate

Owner -: P. T. Barnum
Place Bridgeport, Connecticut
Country United States
Website Website

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History of updates2024-03-10

Latest document update2024-03-10 05:43:49
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P. T. Barnum elephants, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States .


Comments / picturesPhineas Taylor Barnum (July 5, 1810 – April 7, 1891), American showman who is best remembered for his entertaining hoaxes and for founding the circus that eventually became Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Barnum is the title of an award winning Broadway musical based on P. T. Barnum\' s life an exploits. Barnum built four mansions in Bridgeport, Connecticut during his life: Iranistan, Lindencroft, Waldemere and Marina. Iranistan was the most notable: a fanciful and opulent splendor with domes, spires and lacy fretwork, inspired by the Royal Pavilion in Brighton, England. This mansion was built 1848 but burned down in 1857.

1849: In his autobiography, Barnum said: In 1849 I had projected a great traveling museum and menagerie, and, as I had neither time nor inclination to manage such a concern, I induced Mr. Seth B. Howes, justly celebrated as a ‘showman,’ to join me, and take the sole charge. Mr. Sherwood E. Stratton, father of General Tom Thumb, was also admitted to partnership, the interest being in thirds.P. T. Barnum

1851: In 1851 P. T. Barnum and Seth B. Howes imported (9-11??) elephants from Ceylon, It was the largest Group imported to that time. All of them were placed on Barnums Asiatic Caravan, Museum and Menagerie/P. T. Barnums Grand Colossal Museum and Menagerie from 1851 through 1854, although it would appear that one of them died in 1851 (this large import was realized in Ceylon by Stebbings June and Goerge Nutter, the latter was elephant keeper at Menagerie Raymond & Waring, where he took care of the two Asian elephant bulls Virginius and Pizarro, who died in 1847). One of the imports, Tom
Thumb, was a nine-month-old calf so he couldn't be counted in the parade Group Leaving out the one that apparently died in 1851, their names were Pizarro, Mogul, Canada. and Mickey, all males; and females Fanny, Jenny and Mary. When the caravan was auctioned at the end of the 1854 season. Seth B. Howes bought all seven elephants for 52,300. (Source: The elephant in America 1840-1860, by Stuart Thayer)

1855: Barnum retired from the show business in 1855, (keeping only one elephant, Old Josh), but had to settle with his creditors in 1857, and began his old career again as showman and museum proprietor.

1862: he discovered the giantess Anna Swan.

1865-07-13: Barnum\'s American Museum burned to the ground. Barnum quickly reestablished the Museum at another location in New York City, but this too was destroyed by fire in March 1868.

1871: In Brooklyn, New York in 1871 with William Cameron Coup, Barnum established P. T. Barnum\'s Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan & Hippodrome, a traveling amalgamation of circus, menagerie and museum of "freaks", which by 1872 was billing itself as "The Greatest Show on Earth". It went through a number of variants on these names: "P.T. Barnum\'s Travelling World\'s Fair, Great Roman Hippodrome and Greatest Show On Earth".

1872 During tour in Europe, P.T. Barnum visited Carl Hagenbeck Jr. at Firma Carl Hagenbeck in Hamburg, and bought animals for £3 000. According to Hagenbeck, Barnum would only buy elephants from Hagenbecks, an agreement which was followed after his death by James Bailey.

1873: The Great Performing Elephants: Ring No. 1: Gipsey, Introduced by Col. C. White, Ring No. 2: Betsey, Introduced by Frank Dooley.

1875: Barnum owned 4 elephants. (Hoage, Deiss, From Menagerie to Zoological Park in the Nineteenth Century, page 103)
Barnum was elected mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut for a one year term and worked vigorously to improve the city water supply, bring gaslighting to the streets, and strictly enforce liquor and prostitution laws. Barnum was instrumental in starting Bridgeport Hospital, founded in 1878, and served as its first president.

1876: The previous show P. T. Barnum\' s Great Roman Hippodrome was staged as P.T. Barnums Greatest Show on Earth.

1877: P. T. Barnum renewed hos 1876 show P.T. Barnums Greatest Show on Earth as P.T. Barnums new & Greatest Show on Earth

1879: Barnum owned 11 elephants. (Hoage, Deiss, From Menagerie to Zoological Park in the Nineteenth Century, page 103)

1877-1880: P.T. Barnums new & Greatest Show on Earth.

1880: Carl Hagenbeck imported elephants for P.T. Barnum

1881: March 28, 1881, P.T. Barnum forms partnership with James A. Bailey and they merged their circuses into P. T. Barnum, James Bailey and James L. Hutchinson, "P.T. Barnums Greatest Show On Earth, And The Great London Circus, Sangers Royal British Menagerie and The Grand International Allied Shows United", soon shortened to "Barnum & London Circus".

1885: He and Bailey split up again.

1887: Joint venture with Forepaugh, more than 50 elephants in Madison Square Garden.

1888: merged with James Bailey as Barnum & Bailey Circus.

1891: P. T. Barnum died on April 7, 1891 and is buried in Mountain Grove Cemetery, Bridgeport, Connecticut. A statue in his honor was erected in 1893 at Seaside Park, by the water in Bridgeport. Barnum had donated the land for this park in 1865.

1891: James Bailey purchased Barnum & Bailey Circus from Barnums widow.

References for records about P. T. Barnum

Recommended Citation

Koehl, Dan (2024). P. T. Barnum, Elephant Encyclopedia. Available online at https://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1518. (archived at the Wayback machine)

Sources used for this article is among others:

  • Hoage, Deiss, From Menagerie to Zoological Park in the Nineteenth Century, page 103
  • The elephant in America 1840-1860, by Stuart Thayer, available at https://classic.circushistory.org/Bandwagon/BW.htm'>Bandwagon
  • Page 14, 30,
    Elephants and Egotists by Patricia Sumerling2


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