Seth B. Howes

After an earlier multi-year foray in England and on the continent in the years just before and during the Civil War, Seth B. Howes returned to England in 1870 to launch another show to travel in England and then the continent. He brought it to America, however, in 1871 and it was as impressive a show as Barnum’s new venture, also debuting that year. It faltered with the Panic of 1873 and soon a series of other showmen were vying for its control throughout the 1870s. Finally, a poster printer who was owed much money took possession and quickly sold it to James A. Bailey, hence the London part of the famous partnership that began just a couple of years later in 1881 as Barnum & London.

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1865: After the 1864 season, the circumstances of Seth B. Howes' connection with the Great European, as well as the history of the wagons, is still obscure. It is certain that Howe sold out to a firm known as the Flatfoots - George F. Bailey, Lewis June, Avery Smith, and John J. Nathans - before 1867, and it now appears that the transaction took place just before the St. Louis opening in 1865.

Seth B. Howes seems to hove gone into semi-retirement after he sold his Great European to the Flatfoots and left the active management of his later circuses to his twin nephews, Elbert Howes and Egbert Howes. These nephews were two of the thirteen children of Nathan A. Howes, older brother of Seth and also an early circus manager. Seth B., himself, lived until 1901 and died a wealthy man. The Clipper for February 12, 1870, tells us that Egbert, under an engagement to Seth B., had sailed recently for England to start another circus there under the Howes & Cushing title as the show was known in 1857-63. Later issues of the Clipper substantiate that they opened in Liverpool on the 19th of March and were out at least through September.