A Unique Story of a Marvellous Career: Life of Hon. Phineas T. Barnum, by Joel Benton

This summary is based on the biography of Phineas T. Barnum, A Unique Story of a Marvellous Career: Life of Hon. Phineas T. Barnum, by Joel Benton.

The material details Barnum’s early life and character, including anecdotes about his childhood, his first ventures in business, and his youthful experiences with trade and practical jokes. A significant portion of the excerpts covers his eventful career as an impresario, focusing on his management of the American Museum, the strategic exhibition of attractions like General Tom Thumb and Joice Heth, and the highly successful organization of the Jenny Lind concert tour. Furthermore, the biography touches upon Barnum’s later life, political activism, particularly his stance against slavery and railroad interests in the Connecticut Legislature, his involvement in developing Bridgeport, and the financial tribulations he faced, concluding with commentary on his death and legacy.

Table of Contents

Who May Benefit from the Book

Entrepreneurs seeking success through enterprise and pluck.
Marketers and advertisers looking for audacious promotional strategies.
Individuals recovering from major financial failure and debt.
Students of 19th-century American culture and entertainment history.
Those interested in civic improvement and philanthropy.

Top 3 Key Insights

Audacity and Enterprise: Barnum’s career exemplified genuine Americanism, combining shrewdness, audacity, and indomitable will to achieve notable success in the entertainment business.
Advertising as Art: Understanding public curiosity and employing sensational, pervasive advertising was key to commercial triumph, ensuring customers felt they received value for their money.
Financial Resilience: After a massive failure, Barnum demonstrated integrity by paying all debts, leveraging his experience and renewed activity to rebuild his fortune from scratch.

4 More Lessons and Takeaways

Success requires unwavering perseverance; waiting for luck is futile, instead, work diligently and stay focused on your intended vocation.
Debt is a form of slavery; young people should avoid running into debt unless it is an investment guaranteed to help pay itself back (like manure, as the Quaker said).
Temperance and sound health are the foundation of success, as a clear brain is essential for planning and execution in business.
Generous philanthropy and investment in one’s community are duties that come with wealth, enhancing both public good and personal satisfaction.

The Book in 1 Sentence

Phineas T. Barnum’s tumultuous life demonstrates how tireless enterprise, audacious advertising, and ultimate integrity established him as the unrivaled “Exhibition King”.

The Book Summary in 1 Minute

(Estimated reading time: 55 seconds) Phineas T. Barnum was born in Bethel, Connecticut, in 1810, and spent his early years learning the ethics of trade while battling an aversion to manual labor. After marrying Charity Hallett and trying several small ventures, including editing a newspaper, he found his true calling in 1835 by purchasing and exhibiting Joice Heth, allegedly Washington’s nurse. This venture launched his career as a showman, leading him to acquire the American Museum in 1841, where his genius for extraordinary advertising, such as the “Egress” sign, brought immense popularity.

Barnum’s reputation skyrocketed with the successful exhibitions of General Tom Thumb, whom he took on a highly profitable European tour, introducing him to royalty across England, France, and Belgium. A still bolder venture was bringing Jenny Lind, the “Swedish Nightingale,” to America in 1850, securing unprecedented success and enormous financial returns, despite immense management difficulties. However, Barnum lost his entire fortune in 1855 due to the collapse of the fraudulent Jerome Clock Company, forcing him to start life anew at age forty-six. Through tireless lecturing on “The Art of Money Getting” and renewed exhibition efforts (including Tom Thumb’s second tour), he paid off every debt, retrieved his reputation, and returned to manage the American Museum. He devoted his later years to civic development in Bridgeport, becoming Mayor and establishing Seaside Park, cementing his legacy as a great philanthropist and patriotic citizen.

Chapter-wise Book Summary

Introduction

A Unique Story of a Marvellous Career: Life of Hon. Phineas T. Barnum chronicles the life of one of the 19th century’s most iconic figures, Phineas Taylor Barnum. The biography establishes Barnum as a representative type of genuine American enterprise, audacity, and indomitable will. It traces his path from humble New England origins and various small business ventures to becoming the world’s most celebrated showman, managing global stars like General Tom Thumb and Jenny Lind. Beyond his sensational career in entertainment, the book details his devastating financial ruin and his honorable recovery, concluding with his distinguished political and philanthropic life in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

CHAPTER I. IN THE BEGINNING.

“The most proper answer, and doubtless that which applied to the case of Mary, would be, ‘the one thing needful is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, follow in his footsteps, love God and obey His commandments, love our fellowman, and embrace every opportunity of administering to his necessities.’ “

This chapter introduces Phineas Taylor Barnum, born in Bethel, Connecticut, on July 5, 1810, into old New England stock. His ancestors included a Revolutionary War captain and his maternal grandfather, Phineas Taylor, a noted wag and practical joker. Barnum’s father, Philo Barnum, was a generally unsuccessful tailor, farmer, storekeeper, and tavern keeper. Young Phineas was gifted at mathematics, demonstrated an early aversion to manual labor, and learned trade ethics working at his father’s general store. His first visit to New York City was at age ten while driving cattle. He also received a worthless five-acre “landed estate” called Ivy Island from his grandfather, a joke that Barnum only later realized. Barnum was raised religiously, attending the strictly unheated Presbyterian meeting-house and Sunday school. His compositional talents were showcased when he wrote an essay defining the biblical “one thing needful” as incorporating profitable business pursuits with sincere religious devotion.

Chapter Key Points:

Born in Bethel, CT, 1810.
Received “Ivy Island,” a worthless estate, as a joke.
Learned shrewd trade practices as a store clerk.

CHAPTER II. EARLY YEARS AT BETHEL.

“At fifteen he began the world not only penniless but barefooted.”

Barnum faced early tragedy with the death of his devout grandmother in August 1825 and his father in September 1825, leaving his family penniless. The creditors seized everything, forcing fifteen-year-old Barnum to begin the world barefooted. He continued to work in a store and earned money for his employers by initiating a successful lottery scheme to sell off unsalable glass and tin ware. This period also marked his first acquaintance with Charity (“Chairy”) Hallett, a pretty tailoress he later married. The chapter features anecdotes demonstrating Barnum’s developing sense of humor, including tricking a man looking to buy “Russia” (Jerusha) and staging a fake duel between a belligerent Revolutionary pensioner, Uncle Bibbins, and a hatter to compel the veteran to leave town.

Chapter Key Points:

Father died, leaving the family insolvent.
Ran a lottery to clear old store inventory.
Met future wife, Charity Hallett.

CHAPTER III. BUSINESS LIFE.

“A more moral young fellow never existed; he read his Bible and went to church as regularly as ever, and to the day of his death was wont to declare that he owed all that was good in his character to his early observance of Sunday.”

In the fall of 1826, Barnum moved to Brooklyn for a clerkship, where he quickly gained a reputation for shrewdness and business tact by purchasing goods for cash in New York. He suffered from smallpox the following summer, prompting him to return home to Bethel to recover, during which time he renewed his acquaintance with Charity Hallett. Back in Brooklyn, he briefly ran a “porter-home” before taking another clerk position in New York. In 1828, he returned to Bethel and opened his first independent business venture in his grandfather’s carriage-house, selling fruit and confectionery, quickly succeeding and adding fancy goods. He also began legitimately selling lottery tickets for a 10% commission, though his views on lotteries changed later. Anecdotes from this period include him successfully bluffing his grandfather into giving him a sleigh, and collaborating on a humorous but ultimately unsuccessful “mitten” letter for a friend named Jack Mallett.

Chapter Key Points:

Returned to Bethel and started his first independent store.
Began profitable business selling lottery tickets.
Courted Charity Hallett, securing a sleigh for their dates.

CHAPTER IV. TRYING MANY VENTURES.

“But lacking that experience which induces caution, and without the dread of consequences, I frequently laid myself open to the charge of libel, and three times in three years I was prosecuted.”

Barnum and a partner abandoned a planned lottery office venture in Pittsburgh after a trip to Philadelphia left them almost penniless. Barnum married Charity Hallett in 1829. In Danbury, he launched his first editorial venture, The Herald of Freedom, characterized by its youthful vigor and boldness. His writing led to frequent libel charges; one case resulted in a fine, and another criminal prosecution—for stating a prominent Bethel man took “USURY of an orphan boy”—led to a sentence of a $$100$ fine and sixty days in the common jail. After his release and a festive reception from the townspeople, he removed to New York City, where he faced hard times and worked odd jobs, eventually keeping a boarding house. The chapter also includes the detailed prank Barnum played on Darrow involving a bet about whether he had a “whole shirt on his back”.

Chapter Key Points:

Married Charity Hallett; moved to Danbury.
Imprisoned for libel while editing The Herald of Freedom.
Moved back to New York, enduring hard times.

CHAPTER V. BEGINNING AS A SHOWMAN.

“The show business has all phases and grades of dignity, from the exhibition of a monkey to the exposition of that highest art in music or the drama which entrances empires and secures for the gifted artist a worldwide fame which princes well might envy.”

In the summer of 1835, Barnum found his true vocation in the show business. He purchased Joice Heth, a remarkable elderly Black woman claimed to be 161 years old and the former nurse of George Washington. Barnum paid $1,000 for her, secured by what appeared to be an authentic bill of sale dated 1727. This enterprise, though Barnum later deemed it the “least deserving” of his efforts, was highly profitable due to his energetic advertising. Heth died the following February and was buried in Bethel. Barnum’s next venture was genuine: engaging Signor Vivalla, an Italian acrobat and juggler, whom he promoted extensively in New York and Boston. While in Washington, facing financial difficulty due to poor attendance, Barnum pawned his watch and chain. He later joined Aaron Turner’s traveling circus, acting as ticket seller, secretary, and treasurer. During this tour, Barnum repeatedly faced controversies with ministers who denounced the circus, leading him to defend his company publicly. He was also the victim of a severe practical joke by Turner, who convinced a mob in Annapolis that Barnum was the Reverend E. K. Avery, a suspected murderer.

Chapter Key Points:

Found his vocation and purchased Joice Heth.
Successfully toured Signor Vivalla, an acrobat.
Joined Aaron Turner’s traveling circus, facing ministerial opposition.

CHAPTER VI. INCIDENTS OF A CIRCUS TOUR.

“To be sure, I have in times past drank liquor, but I have generally wholly abstained from intoxicating beverages, and for many years, I am glad to say, I have been a strict ‘teetotaller.’ “

This chapter relates various incidents during the circus tour. Barnum paid Turner back for the Avery joke by tricking him into betting $25 that a son could eventually become the same age as his father. When the negro singer Sandford deserted the show, Barnum quickly blackened his own face and performed the plantation melodies to prevent audience disappointment. Barnum recounted narrowly escaping death several times, crediting his lifelong commitment to abstinence from strong drink for preserving him from becoming a “loafer and a vagabond”. At Augusta, Georgia, Barnum demonstrated his shrewd business tactics by using a bill of sale to legally seize his partner Henry’s property interest in the show before the Sheriff could levy on it for Henry’s personal debt. The company later experienced a comical misdirection when they were promised a stay at the grand mansion of “Lady Hayes,” only to discover they were led to a poverty-stricken hovel where a ragged woman washed clothes. During a journey through the dangerous “Indian Nation,” Barnum and friends successfully pranked Vivalla by pretending to be hostile Indians and robbing him, ending Vivalla’s boasting of prowess. The tour ended in New Orleans in 1838, where Barnum sold the steamboat used for exhibitions in exchange for sugar and molasses before returning home.

Chapter Key Points:

Pranked partner Turner using an arithmetic problem.
Performed in blackface when the usual singer deserted.
Successfully outmaneuvered a sheriff over partner’s debt.

CHAPTER VII. HARD TIMES.

” ‘You buy the American Museum!’ exclaimed a friend to whom he confided the scheme. ‘What will you buy it with?’ ‘With brass,’ answered Barnum, ‘for silver and gold have I none.’ “

After returning home, Barnum faced financial difficulties again. He briefly partnered with a German named Proler selling paste-blacking and cologne, losing money when Proler ran away. He managed a short, unprofitable variety show featuring the clever dancer John Diamond, who later ran away after extorting money. Barnum returned to New York resolving never to be an itinerant showman again. He sold Bibles and wrote for Sunday papers to make a living. His energies were revived when a creditor suggested Barnum was incapable of saving money. He learned that Scudder’s American Museum, located at Broadway and Ann Streets, was for sale for $15,000. Realizing its potential, Barnum resolved to buy it, despite having no money. He proposed a deal to the building owner, Mr. Olmsted, asking him to buy the collection, lease it to Barnum (who would pay the purchase price, rent, and live on $12.50 a week), and forfeit everything if he defaulted. The executor, Mr. Heath, nearly sold the collection to a rival (Peale’s Museum Company), but Barnum waged a massive newspaper war against the rival speculators, calling their stock “dead as a herring”. This campaign forced the rivals to forfeit their deposit, allowing Barnum to secure the purchase on December 27, 1841, for $12,000.

Chapter Key Points:

Failed in multiple ventures, including blacking and managing dancers.
Secured the purchase of Scudder’s American Museum for $12,000 using “brass” (credit).
Used newspaper squibs to sink a rival museum stock offering.

CHAPTER VIII. THE AMERICAN MUSEUM.

“No man ever understood the art of advertising better than Barnum. Knowing that mammon is ever caught with glare, he took pains that his posters should be larger, his transparencies more brilliant, his puffing more persistent than anybody elses.”

Barnum approached the Museum management with immense hope and a rigid plan of economy, refusing warm dinners until he was out of debt. He consolidated the original Scudder’s collection with Peale’s Museum later, significantly expanding the exhibits. The Museum became extremely popular, opening daily, and hosting day exhibitions which were more thronged than evenings. Barnum excelled at advertising, employing larger posters, brilliant transparencies, and constant “puffing”. He devised the famous “brick man” advertising stunt: paying a man to carry bricks in a circuit around the Museum, intentionally creating mystery and drawing crowds who followed the man inside to satisfy their curiosity. Barnum also paid back the jokes of editor Louis Gaylord Clark, most notably by feeding him a fantastic story about a fish from the Nile that would grow legs. He made the Museum building highly attractive with flags, banners, sensational posters, and the installation of the first “Drummond Lights” seen in New York.

Chapter Key Points:

Vowed rigorous economy until the Museum was paid off.
Used audacious advertising, including the famous “brick man” stunt.
Installed the first “Drummond Lights” in New York to attract attention.

CHAPTER IX. INCREASED POPULARITY OF THE MUSEUM.

” ‘The Aigress,’ said others, ‘sure that’s an animal we haven’t seen,’ and the throng began to pour down the back-stairs only to find that the ‘Aigress ‘ was the elephant, and that the elephant was all out o’ doors, or so much of it as began with Ann Street.”

The Museum became extraordinarily popular, prompting Barnum to devise the “Egress” sign to clear out visitors who tried to spend the entire day there. He strategically placed a sign reading “To the Egress” above a rear staircase, tricking patrons who thought the Egress was a new exotic animal they had not yet seen, leading them outside onto Ann Street. On St. Patrick’s Day, he averted a major disturbance by commissioning a parade and then directing the marchers away from the Museum entrance just as the crowds arrived. Barnum purchased a herd of buffaloes and advertised a “Grand Buffalo Hunt” on the Hoboken race-course, admitting 24,000 people free of charge. The event was a harmless humbug but widely successful as entertainment, prompting editor N. P. Willis to note the American public’s good nature toward a clever trick. Barnum also exhibited Iowa Indians, who gave war-dances in the Lecture Room. He had to compensate a chief with extra blankets when the chief believed a staged wedding was real.

Chapter Key Points:

Invented the “Egress” sign to manage overcrowding.
Staged the successful “Grand Buffalo Hunt,” attracting 24,000 attendees.
Exhibited Iowa Indians, maintaining a high rope barrier due to the intensity of their “war-dances”.

CHAPTER X. GIANTS AND DWARFS.

“After seeing him and talking with him, I at once determined to secure his services from his parents and to exhibit him in public. I engaged him for four weeks, at three dollars a week, with all traveling and boarding charges for himself and his party at my expense. They came to New York Thanksgiving day, December 8th, 1842, and I announced the dwarf on my Museum bills as ‘General Tom Thumb.’ “

To defeat a rival who claimed his museum was more “scientific,” Barnum engaged in spectacular counter-programming. He countered a genuine mesmerism act by pretending to put a girl in a mesmeric trance and then threatening to cut off her finger, causing her to “flee,” thereby exposing the rival’s act as fake to much amusement. He then bought the rival museum (Peale’s). Barnum exhibited several genuine giants, including M. Bihin and Colonel Goshen. When the two giants prepared to duel, Barnum stopped them by insisting the fight must be advertised and take place on the Lecture Room stage as a grand attraction, which amused them into reconciliation. In November 1842, Barnum discovered Charles S. Stratton, a phenomenally small, well-formed four-year-old child from Bridgeport, whom he immediately engaged. Barnum renamed him “General Tom Thumb” and trained the highly apt pupil extensively. By 1844, Barnum was debt-free, prosperous, and ready to seek new conquests in Europe, securing Tom Thumb’s services for another year at $50 a week plus expenses.

Chapter Key Points:

Killed a rival mesmerism act by staging a fake exhibition.
Prevented two giants from dueling by turning it into a proposed paid exhibition.
Discovered and engaged Charles S. Stratton, whom he named “General Tom Thumb”.

CHAPTER XI. TOM THUMB IN LONDON.

“In a few minutes Her Majesty and the Yankee showman were talking together with the greatest ease and freedom.”

Upon arriving in London in 1844, Tom Thumb performed briefly at the Princess’s Theatre, which served as successful advertising. Barnum rented a splendid mansion in the fashionable West End to maintain an air of exclusivity, refusing entry to those without invitations, claiming he was merely an American citizen visiting London. The American minister, Hon. Edward Everett, promised to arrange a royal reception. Barnum and the General were invited to Buckingham Palace to meet Queen Victoria. Barnum intentionally broke court etiquette by speaking directly to the Queen, who followed suit, leading to an informal and pleasant conversation. During a subsequent appearance, Tom Thumb, dressed as Napoleon, told the Duke of Wellington (the “Iron Duke”) he was meditating on the loss of the Battle of Waterloo, a highly successful piece of wit. Barnum also secured a flattering “free advertisement” in the Court Circular. The visit was a great social and financial success, with the General receiving numerous costly gifts.

Chapter Key Points:

Exhibited Tom Thumb in the aristocratic West End for prestige.
Met Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace, breaking royal protocol.
Tom Thumb’s witty response to the Duke of Wellington created a sensation.

CHAPTER XII. IN FRANCE.

“The first day’s receipts were 5,500 francs—over three hundred dollars, and this sum might have been doubled had there been room for more visitors.”

After preliminary arrangements, Barnum and Tom Thumb arrived in Paris and were commanded to appear at the Tuileries before King Louis Philippe. On Longchamps day, Tom Thumb rode in his tiny carriage with ponies and liveried staff, riding in the line of carriages bearing ambassadors, where he was cheered as “le General Tom Ponce”. The Parisian exhibition was a huge hit, with the elite flocking to see the show, resulting in massive receipts (5,500 francs the first day alone). The media and public embraced “Tom Ponce,” generating statuettes, pictures, and even a café named after him. After a subsequent visit with the royal family, where the Queen and her ladies kissed and petted the General, Barnum organized a profitable tour through major French cities. During his stay, Barnum made a characteristic purchase: a valuable gold and silver table service marked with the Russian Prince’s initials, “P. T.,” to which he simply added a “B.” for Barnum.

Chapter Key Points:

Tom Thumb was celebrated in Paris as “le General Tom Ponce”.
The exhibition was highly popular and financially lucrative.
Barnum cleverly bought a magnificent tea-set matching his initials (“P. T.”).

CHAPTER XIII. IN BELGIUM.

“It was the custom of the country.”

The party continued their tour to Brussels, where they were presented to King Leopold and the Queen. The exhibition was immediately successful, attracting large crowds. A major incident occurred when the case containing all the valuable gifts and jewels Tom Thumb had received from royalty was stolen, though it was quickly recovered and the thief captured. The party visited the historic battlefield of Waterloo. A subsequent journey by cart back to Brussels resulted in a humorous, frustrating extortion. After paying sixteen five-franc pieces for the ride (since they had an important afternoon performance), the driver proceeded at a snail’s pace, frustrating the impatient travelers. The delay caused them to miss the afternoon performance, which was rationalized simply as “the custom of the country”.

Chapter Key Points:

Exhibition continued successfully in Brussels.
Tom Thumb’s valuable jewels from royalty were stolen but recovered.
Barnum’s party was comically extorted during a trip to Waterloo.

CHAPTER XIV. IN ENGLAND AGAIN.

“He declined to notice it, and after the benediction I lectured him for not giving me an opportunity to vindicate myself and those with whom I was connected.”

The General reopened his levees at Egyptian Hall in London with increased success, leveraging his new fame from continental royal receptions. Tom Thumb also performed at the Surrey Zoological Gardens, sometimes appearing in a tethered balloon to ensure all attendees could see him. Barnum made time for sight-seeing, including a trip to Stratford-on-Avon (Shakespeare’s home) and Warwick Castle. At Warwick Castle, Barnum saw purportedly ancient relics of “Guy of Warwick,” including a massive sword and a porridge-pot, which the guide claimed were genuine. Barnum joked that he would have duplicates made for his American Museum and “burst up” the local show. After three years abroad, the tour, encompassing France, Belgium, England, Scotland, and Ireland, was triumphantly concluded, and the party set sail for New York in February 1847. The chapter also includes a flashback detailing a conflict on a Cunard steamer when Captain Judkins refused to allow a clergyman, Dr. Baird, to hold services on Sunday, which Barnum protested indignantly.

Chapter Key Points:

Tom Thumb returned to England with increased prestige.
Barnum joked about replicating the giant, historical relics of Warwick Castle.
Set sail for America after three successful years touring Europe.

CHAPTER XV. AT HOME.

“I had now been a straggler from home most of the time for thirteen years, and I cannot describe the feelings of gratitude with which I reflected that, having by the most arduous toil and deprivations succeeded in securing a satisfactory competence, I should henceforth spend my days in the bosom of my family.”

Barnum secured the permanence of the American Museum by renewing the lease for twenty-five years at $10,000 annually, expanding it by connecting adjacent buildings. Tom Thumb’s European fame was exploited, and his appearances drew massive crowds. General Tom Thumb’s original contract had expired in 1845, and they had established a partnership, splitting the profits equally. Barnum, Tom Thumb, and his parents toured America in 1847, visiting Washington, Boston, and major cities, often grossing $400 to $500 per day. After the tour, Barnum found that he himself had become a major curiosity at the Museum. They traveled south, visiting Charleston and New Orleans, and then went to Havana and Matanzas, Cuba, exhibiting with great success. Barnum retired from personal traveling with the General in May 1848, having secured a “satisfactory competence”. He devoted himself to building Iranistan, his famous, eccentric palace in Bridgeport, modeled after the Royal Pavilion at Brighton, England, sparing no expense. Barnum also engaged in humor related to his new agricultural life, including describing a gardener mishap where he cut all the grafts off his cherry trees.

Chapter Key Points:

Secured a 25-year lease for the highly profitable American Museum.
Retired from traveling with Tom Thumb in 1848.
Built Iranistan, his extravagant palace in Bridgeport.

CHAPTER XVI. JENNY LIND.

“Barnum’s Ambassador—Unprecedented Terms offered—Text of the Contract—Hard Work to Raise the Guarantee Fund—Educating the American Mind to receive the Famous Singer.”

Barnum launched his next, most daring venture: bringing Jenny Lind, the renowned Swedish Nightingale, to America. He sent John Hall Wilton, his ambassador, to Europe to offer unparalleled terms: $1,000 per concert, plus all expenses for Lind and her party, including a companion, secretary, and servants. The contract guaranteed the equivalent of $187,000 upfront, secured via Baring Brothers in London. Lind would receive an additional one-fifth of profits after 75 concerts if Barnum had realized a clear profit of £15,000. Raising the guarantee fund was difficult; Barnum sold property and had to borrow $5,000 at the last moment from a friend. Barnum spent the months before Lind’s arrival in September 1850 “educating the American mind” through a relentless advertising campaign, preparing the public for an appreciation of her worth and talent.

Chapter Key Points:

Undertook the “daring venture” of bringing Jenny Lind to America.
Offered unprecedented terms of $1,000 per concert plus expenses.
Struggled to raise the massive $187,000 guarantee fund.

CHAPTER XVII. ARRIVAL OF JENNY LIND.

“The first one was bid up to the extraordinary figure of $225. This was bid and the ticket was secured by John N. Genin, a hatter; and the public notice which was thereby attracted to him was such a great advertisement for his business that within a few years thereafter he amassed a fortune.”

Jenny Lind arrived in New York on September 1, 1850, to a reception usually reserved for royalty. Barnum met her, having prepared the port with welcoming decorations, likely billed as advertising. A throng of twenty thousand people gathered outside her hotel, the Irving House. Lind was impressed by Barnum’s firm stance as a teetotaler, refusing wine but pledging her health in cold water. The public furore was immense, with goods named after her and poems published in her honor. The ticket sale for the first concert at Castle Garden was held by auction, with the first ticket sold for an astonishing $225 to John N. Genin, a hatter, which proved an invaluable advertisement for Genin. The concert reception was ecstatic, with the audience rising and cheering wildly, confirming her triumph. Lind demonstrated profound musical mastery, described as possessing “celestial purity and penetrating sweetness”.

Chapter Key Points:

Lind arrived to an ecstatic reception orchestrated by Barnum.
The first concert ticket sold for $225 at auction.
Her first performance at Castle Garden was a massive success, exceeding expectations.

CHAPTER XVIII. CONTINUED TRIUMPH.

“The fact is, her mind ought to be as free as air, and she herself as free as a bird, and being satisfied of my probity and ability, she should turn a deaf ear to all envious and malevolent attacks on me.”

The tour continued with enormous financial and critical success, confirming that the reality of Jenny Lind surpassed the public expectation created by Barnum’s advertising. Barnum endured considerable anxiety, particularly due to her friends and lawyer, John Jay, who encouraged her to break the contract, arguing Barnum was “coining money out of her genius”. Barnum wrote to his London banker, Joshua Bates, complaining that the consistent “backbitings” might lead to distrust. Jenny Lind ultimately stood by the contract, demonstrating high integrity. She later revealed that the sight of the engraving of Iranistan (Barnum’s palace) on Wilton’s letterhead convinced her that Barnum was not a mere “adventurer”. Barnum and Lind visited prominent American cities, including Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, and traveled south to Charleston and Havana. In Havana, freed from zealous counselors, she spent a delightful month, seeing no callers and engaging in playful activities with Barnum, such as playing ball.

Chapter Key Points:

Barnum successfully defended his management against critics and rivals.
Lind continued the tour, having been impressed by Barnum’s successful reputation (symbolized by Iranistan).
The tour proceeded south to Cuba for rest and performances.

CHAPTER XIX. HAVANA.

“The torrent flowed deeper and faster, the lark flew higher and higher, the melody grew richer and grander; still every lip was compressed. By and by, as the rich notes came dashing in rivers upon our enraptured ears, one poor critic involuntarily whispered a ‘brava.’ This outbursting of the soul was instantly hissed down.”

In Havana, Barnum discovered that the local Habaneros were attempting to force him to lower the admission fee by refusing to applaud Lind. During the first concert, the audience initially responded to Lind’s appearance with hisses, remaining stubbornly silent. Lind, visibly challenged, sang with such sublime intensity that she overcame the opposition, concluding her performance to a “tremendous shout of applause”. Barnum related the story of his former acrobat, Signor Vivalla, whom Lind secretly helped with 2,000 francs to return to Italy. Lind insisted on carrying Vivalla’s dog’s spinning-wheel herself, devoting an hour to the grateful Italian despite refusing to see dignitaries seeking to thank her. The trip back to New Orleans involved James Gordon Bennett, the treasurer, who suffered from melancholy and threatened to drown James Gordon Bennett, the editor, who was aboard the same steamer. Barnum intervened, watching the treasurer carefully until he calmed down. Upon arrival in New Orleans, Barnum used a successful ruse, announcing his daughter as “Miss Lind” to distract the massive crowd while Lind entered unnoticed. Barnum also amused passengers on the Mississippi trip with anecdotes and legerdemain tricks, terrifying a barber into transferring his money to the ship’s safe.

Chapter Key Points:

Lind conquered a hostile Havana audience with the brilliance of her voice.
Lind secretly financed the return of former Barnum acrobat, Vivalla, to Italy.
Barnum prevented his disturbed treasurer, J. G. Bennett, from murdering the editor, J. G. Bennett, on a steamer.

CHAPTER XX. THE TRIALS OF AN IMPRESSARIO.

“You know, Mr. Barnum, if you would only tell, which of the two it was that was ‘for-getting,’ and which ‘for-giving;’ and you also know who actually gave the larger portion of those sums which you heralded to the world as the sole gifts of the ‘divine Jenny.’ “

In St. Louis, after 60 concerts, Lind’s secretary approached Barnum, claiming Lind wished to cancel the engagement based on a contract condition. Barnum consulted legal counsel (Sol Smith) and prepared to insist that if she broke the contract, she must repay the extra $77,000 she had earned beyond the minimum stipulation. The secretary later claimed it was all a “joke,” suggesting Lind was unaware of the scheme. The tour continued smoothly. Sol Smith, later publishing his autobiography, dedicated it to Barnum, mockingly referring to the conundrum: “Why is it that Jenny Lind and Barnum will never fall out? Answer: ‘Because he is always for-getting, and she is always for-giving.’ “. Smith implied that Barnum was the one who was “forgiving” (of Lind’s extravagant demands) and who actually gave much of the money credited to Lind’s charities. Smith praised Barnum as the “most successful manager” and the “Napoleon of Finance,” who alone would risk the enormous expenditure necessary for the tour.

Chapter Key Points:

Lind’s secretary attempted to cancel the tour after 60 concerts.
Barnum successfully thwarted the attempt by threatening financial repayment.
Sol Smith lauded Barnum as the great impressario who risked huge sums on the tour.

CHAPTER XXI. CLOSING THE GRAND TOUR.

“I had voluntarily given Miss Lind more than twice as much as I originally contracted to give her, or as she expected to receive when she engaged with me.”

The Jenny Lind party spent April 1, 1851, at Nashville, where Barnum took revenge on his companions by sending them sensational “April Fool” telegrams. In Cincinnati, Barnum used another ruse to avoid the massive crowds by sending a “Miss Lind” decoy in a plain carriage while the real Lind followed unnoticed. Miss Lind eventually insisted on leaving Barnum after 93 concerts, buying out the remainder of her contract, believing she could manage without him. The financial summary shows the total receipts for 95 concerts were over $712,000. Barnum’s receipts were $535,486.26, and Miss Lind’s were $217,143.25, demonstrating the immense financial success of the enterprise. Lind gave away $10,000 of her half-receipts from the first two concerts to charity in New York.

Chapter Key Points:

Barnum played elaborate “April Fool” jokes on his staff.
Lind bought out her contract after 93 concerts.
The tour’s total receipts exceeded $712,000.

CHAPTER XXII. A FEW SIDE ISSUES.

“In the first place, such an animal would cost from $3,000 to $10,000; in cold weather he could not work at all; in any weather he could not earn half his living; he would eat up the value of his own head, trunk and body every year; and I begged my correspondents not to do so foolish a thing as to undertake elephant farming.”

Barnum continued seeking novelties for the Museum, partnering with Seth B. Howes to charter the ship Regatta to sail to Ceylon in 1850 for the capture of elephants and other wild animals. To advertise his show after its return, Barnum retained one elephant and brought it to his Bridgeport farm, Iranistan. He ordered the keeper, dressed in Oriental costume, to plow a field next to the New York and New Haven railroad track whenever trains passed. This generated immense free publicity and serious inquiries from agricultural societies about the utility of elephants in farming. Barnum responded with a “strictly confidential” letter advising them against “elephant farming,” as the animal cost too much and could not earn its keep, but was a valuable advertisement. He also invested in the steamship North America, later selling parts of his share to Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt. Barnum exhibited an automatic orator (talking machine) and introduced the highly successful performance of the “Scotch Boys,” who used a secret verbal code to identify objects while blindfolded. During a visit by Catherine Hayes to Iranistan, a small fire broke out, causing Hayes to pack her trunks and run. Hayes later performed a concert for the benefit of Mountain Grove Cemetery, a local enterprise established by Barnum.

Chapter Key Points:

Sent a ship to Ceylon for wild animals.
Generated huge publicity by plowing a field with an elephant next to a railroad track.
Established Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport.

CHAPTER XXIII. SOME DOMESTIC ENTERPRISES.

“Crowds of people rushed in to see the show, parents for miles around brought their children to see the awful example of iniquity, and great was the profit to the treasury of the fair.”

Between 1851 and 1853, Barnum spent much time in Bridgeport. At the Fairfield County Agricultural Society fair in 1853, Barnum turned a misfortune into a profit by exhibiting a notorious English pickpocket who had been caught robbing a farmer. He papered the region with handbills advertising the “live pickpocket” as an extraordinary attraction, drawing huge crowds and boosting the fair’s treasury. Barnum served as President of the Pequonnock Bank of Bridgeport, though he held no stock. He also briefly invested $20,000 in The Illustrated News, which reached 70,000 circulation within a month. In 1854, he was persistently urged to accept the presidency of the Universal Exposition at the New York Crystal Palace, which he accepted, advancing large sums to save the nearly bankrupt enterprise before resigning.

Chapter Key Points:

Exhibited a captured pickpocket at a county fair for profit.
Served as President of the Pequonnock Bank.
Briefly headed the New York Crystal Palace Exposition.

CHAPTER XXIV. THE JEROME CLOCK COMPANY.

“The Jerome Clock Bubble—A Ruined Man—Paying Honest Debts—Down in the Depths.”

In 1851, Barnum had helped found East Bridgeport by buying and laying out large tracts of land. In 1855, he was approached by Chauncey Jerome, President of the seemingly wealthy Jerome Clock Company, who wished to relocate the factory to East Bridgeport. Based on fraudulent director reports and Jerome’s apparent wealth, Barnum agreed to lend his name as security, expecting his total liability to be capped at $110,000. He was tricked into signing notes with blank dates. The company collapsed, taking Barnum’s entire fortune with it, and paid only about 15% of its own obligations. Barnum was ruined, subjected to public scrutiny, and furiously denied the moralizing press claims about the “instability of ill-gotten gains”.

Chapter Key Points:

Helped found the city of East Bridgeport.
Lost his entire fortune by guaranteeing the debts of the fraudulent Jerome Clock Company.
The resulting failure made him a ruined man facing public criticism.

CHAPTER XXV. THE WHEAT AND THE CHAFF.

“While favored with health, I feel competent to earn an honest livelihood for myself and family. More than this I shall certainly never attempt with such a load of debt suspended in terrorem over me.”

Barnum was overwhelmed by sincere offers of financial assistance, including benefits proposed by leading New York citizens like Cornelius Vanderbilt and Freeman Hunt. He declined all monetary favors, adhering to his principle of never accepting anything without providing a full equivalent in return. He received a heartfelt offer from General Tom Thumb to appear at benefits, volunteering his services and claiming, “I can draw a tremendous load”. A sympathetic Boston editor, B. P. Shillaber (“Mrs. Partington”), published a poem praising Barnum’s generosity and enterprise. Bridgeport citizens held a mass meeting, expressing their sympathy, confidence in his integrity, and gratitude for his contributions to the community. Barnum wrote a moving letter acknowledging their kindness and reaffirming his commitment to honesty, stating that the tribulation might be a “blessing in disguise”. He assigned all his remaining property to assignees and moved his family to a hired house in New York, starting life anew at forty-six.

Chapter Key Points:

Refused all financial assistance and public benefits offered by friends.
Received a touching offer of help from General Tom Thumb.
Expressed determination to pay off all clock debts despite ruin.

CHAPTER XXVI. IDLENESS WITHOUT REST.

“You do beat all for luck. Here you come and board for four months with your family, and when the time is nearly up and you’re getting ready to leave, out rolls a big black whale on our beach, a thing never heard of before in this vicinity, and you take that whale and pay your board-bill with it!”

Barnum faced annoying persecutions from outside creditors who had bought the cheap clock notes and insisted he still had hidden funds. He underwent “supplementary proceedings” (examinations under oath), during which he employed dry humor. While spending a summer on Long Island, his financial situation was unexpectedly saved when a large black whale washed up dead on the beach. Barnum purchased the whale, shipped it to the Museum (where it was exhibited in a huge refrigerator), and used his share of the profits to pay the family’s entire board bill for the season, astonishing his landlord. An event that gave Barnum great hope was the removal of the Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine Company to East Bridgeport, which promised to increase the value of his remaining land. Barnum accepted a $5,000 loan without security to buy back East Bridgeport property and clock notes at assignee sales, then decided to go to Europe again to earn more money quickly.

Chapter Key Points:

Annoyed by creditors attempting to prove he was hiding assets.
Paid his family’s summer board bill by exhibiting a dead black whale that washed ashore.
Sailed for Europe to earn money to buy back his property and debts.

CHAPTER XXVII. A PROSPEROUS EXILE.

“Mr. Barnum, I admire you more than ever I have read the accounts in the papers of the examinations you underwent in New York courts; and the positive pluck you exhibit under your pecuniary embarrassments is worthy of all praise.”

In London, Barnum met his former acquaintance, Albert Smith, who had become a successful showman by adopting Barnum’s techniques, joking that Barnum was his teacher. Smith’s popular show included a thinly veiled joke about Barnum’s attempt to buy relics at Warwick Castle. Barnum also met William Makepeace Thackeray, who expressed immense admiration for Barnum’s resilience and “pluck” during his financial troubles. When Barnum explained that his wife had substantial wealth, Thackeray jokingly rescinded his sympathy. Barnum was still actively generating income through exhibiting Tom Thumb and Cordelia Howard (“Little Eva”). He encountered humorous bureaucratic difficulty in a German custom house when officials insisted on weighing and charging duty on his advertising posters and lithographs. At the fashionable resort of Baden-Baden, Barnum raised the exhibition fee higher than ever, given the aristocratic patronage. He was highly impressed by Holland’s cleanliness, thrift, and industry.

Chapter Key Points:

Met Thackeray, who admired his handling of financial setbacks.
Continued exhibiting Tom Thumb and Little Eva in Europe to earn money.
Encountered bureaucracy in Germany trying to charge duty on show advertisements.

CHAPTER XXVIII. HOME AGAIN.

” ‘Ah, ha!’ I said to myself, ‘my butterfly friends, I know you now; and, what is more to the point, if ever I get out of this bewilderment of broken clock-wheels, I shall not forget you.’ “

Barnum found great relief from his business cares during the voyage home, organizing entertaining mock trials among the passengers. He was put on trial himself, charged as the “Prince of Humbugs,” in an elaborate production. He used the opportunity to dismantle the prosecution’s witnesses by having them unwittingly confirm the excellent value of his Museum. Upon arrival in New York, Barnum noticed that many prosperous friends “dodged into a store, or across the street,” choosing to avoid him due to his financial ruin. He realized this adversity8, 299].

Observed that many former wealthy friends avoided him after his failure.
His former home, Iranistan, burned down completely in 1857.

CHAPTER XXIX. THE ART OF MONEY GETTING.

“The road to wealth is, as Dr. Franklin truly says, ‘as plain as the road to mill.’ It consists simply in expending less than we earn.”

Barnum sought to earn more money by appearing on the lecture platform in England, choosing the topic, “The Art of robs a man of self-respect. Other maxims included being “cautious and bold”, believing there is “no such thing… as luck”, and insisting on advertising genuinely good goods extensively. He emphasized that “A little [advertising] is a dangerous thing”, and advised perseverance: “Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well”. He lectured at Oxford and Cambridge, successfully disarming rowdy students with humor and impromptu challenges.

Chapter Key Points:

Began a successful lecture tour on “The Art of Money Getting”.
Key principles included rigorous economy, temperance, perseverance, and honesty.
Successfully lectured to boisterous students at prestigious universities.

CHAPTER XXX. AN ENTERPRISING ENGLISHMAN.

“I know every line in your book; so, indeed, do several members of my family; and I have conducted my business on the principles laid down in your published ‘Rules for Money-making.’ I find them correct principles; and, sir, I have sought this interview in order to thank you for publishing your autobiography…”

In Manchester, Barnum met John Fish, a cotton-mill owner who credited his success entirely to reading Barnum’s autobiography and applying his “Rules for Money-making”. Fish recounted how reading Barnum inspired him to advertise for a partner and start his own successful business. Fish later invited Tom Thumb and Commodore Nutt to a “splendid and sumptuous dinner”. Barnum asked Fish to travel to Paris to physically measure a French giant he was considering hiring, arranging pay based on height, which Fish completed despite bureaucratic resistance. In a letter, Fish described his pair of steam engines, which he named “Barnum” and “Charity,” explaining that the high-pressure engine “Charity” saved him money, much like Barnum’s wife had saved Barnum financially.

Chapter Key Points:

Met John Fish, a manufacturer who attributed his wealth to Barnum’s published business rules.
Sent Fish to Paris to secretly measure a giant for a show contract.
Fish named his steam engines “Barnum” and “Charity”.

CHAPTER XXXI. AT HOME AGAIN.

“Every clock debt of which I have any knowledge has been provided for… The Christian name of my wife is Charity. I may well acknowledge, therefore, that I am not only a proper ‘subject of charity,’ but that ‘without Charity, I am nothing.’ “

Barnum returned to the U.S. in 1859, bringing new novelties for the Museum. The money earned from his lecture tour and exhibitions, combined with Charity Barnum’s income and asset sales, was devoted entirely to paying off the clock debts. He secured an agreement to buy back the American Museum, and massive advertisements announced, “Barnum is on his feet again”. At the final public address before the reopening, Barnum was received with immense enthusiasm. He announced that every clock debt was provided for, crediting the “forbearance of generous creditors,” sympathetic friends (notably James D. Johnson), and the economic sacrifices of his wife, Charity, whose money bought back parts of his estate and clock notes. He stated that the tribulation was a “blessing in disguise” and affirmed that he would dedicate the Museum to “healthy amusement and instruction,” avoiding objectionable content.

Chapter Key Points:

Paid off all liabilities from the clock company failure.
Wife Charity’s financial support was crucial to his recovery.
Reacquired the American Museum, committing to wholesome entertainment.

CHAPTER XXXII. THE STORY OF “GRIZZLY ADAMS.”

“This little Indian, ladies and gentlemen, is Yellow Bear, chief of the Kiowas. He has killed, no doubt, scores of white persons, and he is probably the meanest black-hearted rascal that lives in the far West.”

The reopened Museum prospered. Barnum partnered with James C. Adams, universally known as “Grizzly Adams,” a brave veteran frontiersman who exhibited his famous collection of California wild animals, including many grizzly bears and a sea-lion. Adams was severely injured, with a broken skull, but kept working through sheer will to earn money for his wife. Barnum offered Adams a $500 bonus if he continued exhibiting the bears for ten consecutive weeks, drawing up the agreement payable to Adams’ wife. Adams then tricked Barnum into giving him a fine new hunting suit by asking for a written assurance that he could wear it “until I have done with it,” knowing he was about to die. Adams died shortly after, insisting on being buried in the suit, fulfilling his joke against Barnum. In 1860, the Museum was visited by the Prince of Wales, who regretted missing Barnum himself, but praised the establishment.

Chapter Key Points:

Partnered with “Grizzly Adams,” the famous bear hunter.
Adams tricked Barnum into giving him a fine hunting suit for his burial.
The Museum prospered and was visited by the Prince of Wales.

CHAPTER XXXIII. BUILDING A CITY.

“The enterprise which he undertook was calculated both to help those who were willing to help themselves to obtain independent homes, and at the same time to pay a handsome profit to Mr. Barnum.”

Barnum focused on the growth of East Bridgeport, which he had helped establish years earlier. Acting as both a speculator and a public benefactor, he offered to loan money at 6% interest to industrious, temperate, and respectable individuals who wished to build their own homes. He offered to advance 80% of the cost of the house and lot, requiring the borrower to furnish 20% in labor, material, or money, and pay back in small installments. This advantageous offer allowed working men to own their homes, bypassing the complexities of building associations, and led to the rapid progress of East Bridgeport. He systematically named the streets in East Bridgeport after his family members and those of his partners.

Chapter Key Points:

Continued promoting the growth of East Bridgeport.
Offered financing to help 50 individuals build their own homes.
The plan was a profitable philanthropy that spurred development.

CHAPTER XXXIV. A GREAT YEAR AT THE MUSEUM.

“As it is very doubtful whether these wonderful creatures can be kept alive more than a few days, the public will see the importance of seizing the first moment to see them.”

The year 1861 was marked by Barnum’s ambition to exhibit live white whales. He built a large tank in the Museum basement and organized an expedition to the St. Lawrence River, capturing two whales using a ‘kraal’ trap. To advertise the transport, he instructed telegraph operators to announce the whales’ progress. Although the first pair died quickly due to poor living conditions, Barnum installed a state-of-the-art system, including a seawater pipe laid under the city streets from New York Bay, and a glass-sided tank on the second floor. He advertised the short lifespan of the whales to maximize attendance. When critics claimed they were porpoises, Barnum obtained and published a certificate from Professor Agassiz confirming they were genuine white whales. After the whales, Barnum exhibited the first live hippopotamus seen in America, advertised as “the great behemoth of the Scriptures,” prolonging its “last week” for many months. In 1861, Barnum also engaged a dwarf named George Washington Morrison Nutt, christening him “Commodore Nutt,” who was widely mistaken for a grown-up Tom Thumb. Barnum later exhibited the two dwarfs together as “The Two Dromios”. Barnum also exhibited groups of Native American chiefs, who regarded him as their host and would not have stayed if they knew people paid admission.

Chapter Key Points:

Captured and exhibited two live white whales, building an elaborate tank system.
Exhibited the first hippopotamus in America, lengthening its “last week” for months.
Engaged Commodore Nutt, leading to a profitable dual exhibition with Tom Thumb.

CHAPTER XXXV. GENERAL AND MRS. TOM THUMB.

” ‘The General wanted to know all about the family of Lavinia Warren… That is the most charming little lady I ever saw, and I believe she was created to be my wife. Now, Mr. Barnum, you’ve always been a friend of mine, and I want you to say a good word for me to her.’ “

In 1862, Barnum engaged Miss Lavinia Warren, an intelligent and refined dwarf girl from Massachusetts. Lavinia was exhibited with Commodore Nutt, who developed a “violent fancy” for her, though she regarded him as only a boy. General Tom Thumb, taking a vacation in Bridgeport, unexpectedly visited the Museum, fell instantly in love with Lavinia, and immediately asked Barnum to act as his matchmaker, declaring her destined to be his wife. Tom Thumb courted Lavinia discreetly, showing her his wealth, including an insurance policy where he was the mortgagee. They were married on February 10, 1863, at Grace Church, New York, with a reception at the Metropolitan Hotel, attracting massive attention. Dr. Thomas House Taylor, responding to a disgruntled pew owner who complained about the police presence at the “marriage of mountebanks,” defended the wedding as a beautiful solemn ceremony deserving of courtesy and protection from intrusion.

Chapter Key Points:

Hired the dwarf Lavinia Warren, whom Commodore Nutt immediately pursued.
General Tom Thumb returned, fell in love with Lavinia, and proposed.
Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren married in a sensational, high-society event.

CHAPTER XXXVI. POLITICAL NOTES.

“I will not attempt to notice at any length the declamation of the honorable gentleman from Milford, for certainly I have heard nothing from his lips approaching to the dignity of argument.”

Barnum contributed heavily to the Union cause during the Civil War. He and Elias Howe Jr. attended a “Peace Meeting” in Stepney in 1861, challenging speakers who they felt were disloyal. The meeting broke into chaos when Union soldiers arrived, leading to the removal of the white “Peace” flag, and Barnum was cheered for making a patriotic speech. Barnum was elected to the Connecticut Legislature as a Republican. He made an effective speech on a proposed constitutional amendment concerning the right of suffrage for educated, moral colored men. Barnum argued vehemently that ignorance jeopardizes free institutions and that allowing educated Black men to vote would validate the sacrifices of the war and lead to human development. He refuted race-based arguments by citing the poor intelligence of “clay-eating whites” in the South and quoting an Irish judge who questioned whether a “nigger” was born black “at his own particular request”.

Chapter Key Points:

Interrupted a “Peace Meeting” to advocate for the Union cause.
Elected to the Connecticut Legislature as a Republican.
Delivered a powerful speech advocating for suffrage for educated colored men.

CHAPTER XXXVII. BURNING OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM.

“Barnum’s Museum is gone, but Barnum himself, happily, did not share the fate of his rattlesnakes and his, at least, most ‘un-Happy Family.’ There are fishes in the seas and beasts in the forest; birds still fly in the air, and strange creatures still roam in the deserts; giants and pigmies still wander up and down the earth; the oldest man, the fattest woman, and the smallest baby are still living, and Barnum will find them.”

On July 13, 1865, while Barnum was speaking in the Legislature, he received a telegram announcing the total destruction of the American Museum by fire. He calmly finished his speech, securing a legislative victory, before revealing the news. The loss was irreparable, including many unique animals (like the sea-lion and the Happy Family), historical relics, and most wax figures, with only $40,000 in insurance. A humorous newspaper report described the scene, including the frantic escape of monkeys and the difficult rescue of the giantess, Anna Swan, who was lowered from the third story by a derrick. Horace Greeley advised Barnum to “Accept this fire as a notice to quit, and go a-fishing”. However, Barnum felt obligated by the one hundred and fifty employees who were suddenly out of work, and decided to establish another Museum. At a benefit for his employees, Barnum announced his intention to rebuild, prompting the New York Sun to praise his profound knowledge of mankind, courage, and business tact.

Chapter Key Points:

The American Museum was totally destroyed by fire in 1865.
Barnum learned the news while giving a speech but finished his legislative business first.
Decided to open a new museum rather than retire, largely due to loyalty to his employees.

CHAPTER XXXVIII. POLITICAL LIFE.

“I possessed, naturally, too much independence of mind, and too strong a determination to do what I believe to be right, regardless of party expediency, to make a lithe and oily politician.”

Barnum continued his active role in the Connecticut Legislature, notably leading the “Great Railroad Fight” to regulate prices set by the New York and New Haven Railroad. Barnum passionately argued that the railroad had broken a tacit agreement with commuters by doubling prices during the war and keeping them high. During the final debate, he used a telegram announcing a secret railroad attempt to raise fares that day to introduce an amendment that foiled their scheme, successfully passing the bill. His leadership also helped get Senator Ballard elected. Barnum admitted that politics were generally distasteful to him because he valued independence over party expediency. In 1867, he consented to run for Congress as a Republican, but lost when the district swung Democratic. He challenged his rival, W. H. Barnum, to a serious and candid public debate across the district, which his opponent promptly declined.

Chapter Key Points:

Successfully led the fight in the Connecticut Legislature to regulate railroad commuter fares.
Lost his Congressional campaign in 1867, attributing it to his political independence.
Challenged his political rival to a public debate, which was refused.

CHAPTER XXXIX. FIGHTING A NEWSPAPER.

“Bennett had tried abusing me, off and on, for twenty years, on one occasion refusing my advertisement altogether for the space of about a year; but I always managed to be the gainer by his course.”

After the fire, Barnum decided to sell the unexpired lease (11 years remaining) of the American Museum site, valued at $275,000. He sold the lease for $200,000 to James Gordon Bennett, the owner of the New York Herald, who planned to build a newspaper office there. Bennett quickly realized he had overpaid for the underlying land and tried to get his money back from Barnum. When Barnum refused, Bennett retaliated by ordering his editor, Mr. Hudson, to exclude Barnum’s advertisements from the Herald. Barnum unified the “Managers’ Association,” and they unanimously resolved to withdraw all advertising and job printing from the Herald in solidarity. The managers also began heading their ads in other papers with the line: “This establishment does not advertise in the New York Herald”. The Herald lost between $75,000 and $100,000 in revenue and circulation, and the theatres prospered, as the public sided with the managers against Bennett’s arbitrary action. Barnum considered Bennett’s abuse “far more remunerative than his praise” due to the massive, free notoriety it generated.

Chapter Key Points:

Sold his lucrative museum lease to New York Herald owner James Gordon Bennett.
Bennett retaliated against Barnum by excluding his advertisements.
Barnum led the Managers’ Association in a successful advertising boycott against the Herald.

CHAPTER XL. BRIDGEPORT.

“A remarkable feature of Mr. Barnum’s life was his loyalty to the place he had chosen as his home, and his devotion to its interests.”

Barnum demonstrated lifelong loyalty to Bridgeport, envisioning its potential growth. He was the primary force behind the creation of Seaside Park, agitating for the city to acquire land along the Sound. When an administrator of an estate refused to give up land needed for the park, Barnum personally bought the thirty-acre farm for $12,000 and donated the required frontage, facilitating the park’s establishment. Barnum criticized the “conservative notions of old fogies” who obstructed progress in the city. After Lindencroft was sold, he built a permanent seaside home, Waldemere, on land adjoining Seaside Park. In 1875, Barnum was elected Mayor of Bridgeport, winning easily on the Republican ticket. In his inaugural address, he prioritized careful expenditure, public health, and fighting against the evils of liquor, stating that 90% of arrests were traceable to its use. His administration succeeded in closing saloons on Sundays for the first time in twenty years.

Chapter Key Points:

Instrumental in founding and developing Seaside Park in Bridgeport.
Elected Mayor of Bridgeport in 1875.
Fought against liquor sales and promoted public morals during his mayoralty.

Notable Quotes from the Book (Not Used Under Any Chapter)

“His career was, in a large sense, typical of genuine Americanism, of its enterprise and pluck, of its indomitable will and unfailing courage, of its shrewdness, audacity and unerring instinct for success.”
“The rogue, the passionate man, the drunkard, are not to be envied even at the best, and a conscience hardened by sin is the most sorrowful possession we can think of.”
“I honestly believe that I owe my preservation from the degradation of living and dying a loafer and a vagabond, to the single fact that I was never addicted to strong drink.”
“I never made pretensions to the sharpness of a pawnbroker, and I hope I shall never so entirely lose confidence in human nature as to consider every man a scamp by instinct, or a rogue by necessity.”
“A human soul, ‘that God has created and Christ died for,’ is not to be trifled with.”
“Barnum’s Museum is gone, but Barnum himself, happily, did not share the fate of his rattlesnakes and his, at least, most ‘un-Happy Family.’ “
“I believe in no ‘expediency’ that is not predicated of justice, for in all things—politics, as well as everything else—I know that ‘honesty is the best policy.’ “
“If a man has a genuine article, there is no way in which he can reap more advantageously than by ‘sowing’ to the public in this way.”
“The inordinate love of money, no doubt, may be and is ‘the root of all evil,’ but money itself, when properly used, is not only a ‘handy thing to have in the house,’ but affords the gratification of blessing our race…”
“If that be ‘humbug,’ gentlemen, ‘make the most of it.’ “

About the Author

The author of this biography is Joel Benton. The source material provides excerpts from the life of Phineas T. Barnum and includes extensive tributes to Barnum following his death, but it offers no direct biographical information about Joel Benton, nor does it mention any other books he may have written. Based on the textual evidence, Benton meticulously documented Barnum’s unique career, focusing on his audacious business strategies, spectacular successes with figures like Tom Thumb and Jenny Lind, and his eventual moral and civic achievements. Benton’s work is presented as an admiring and insightful account of Barnum’s life, characterizing him as a complex figure who balanced showmanship with philanthropy and patriotism. The tone suggests Benton held Barnum in high regard, concluding his narrative with heartfelt tributes from contemporaries like Theodore L. Cuyler and Rev. Robert Collyer.

How to Get the Most from the Books

Apply Barnum’s maxims by reading with diligence, focusing on practical advice, and noting how integrity and persistence fueled success over mere luck.

Conclusion

The life of P. T. Barnum, as detailed in this biography, is presented as a singular example of audacity, resilience, and genuine American enterprise. Beginning life with virtually nothing, Barnum transformed the entertainment industry, moving from smaller ventures to securing the American Museum and launching global sensations like General Tom Thumb and Jenny Lind. His philosophy, though often associated with “humbug,” was underpinned by meticulous planning and an uncanny understanding of human curiosity, coupled with the conviction that patrons must always receive “the worth of his money”. Even his most devastating setback—the loss of his fortune in the Jerome Clock Company fraud—served only to test his integrity and resilience, enabling him to repay every debt and return triumphantly to the public sphere. Ultimately, Barnum leveraged his wealth and fame not just for spectacular shows, but for earnest civic duty and philanthropy, leaving behind a legacy as both the “Exhibition King” and a devoted public benefactor of Bridgeport.