Barnum, Phineas Taylor

Barnum, Phineas Taylor (1810-91), American showman.

P. T. Barnum first ran a museum of curiosities in New York, including a dwarf nicknamed 'General Tom Thumb'.

Later, with James Anthony Bailey, he ran Barnum and Bailey's circus. This was called 'The Greatest Show on Earth'.

Barnum became famous for the ways he used to call attention to his shows.

When he died he was a millionaire five times over.