Barnum and bailey biography

American showman and politician (–)

"Barnum" redirects here. For other uses with the name Barnum, see Barnum (disambiguation).

Phineas Taylor Barnum (July 5, – April 7, ) was an American showman, businessman, and politician remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and founding with James Anthony Bailey the Ringling Bros.

and Barnum & Bailey Circus.^[1] He was also an author, publisher, and philanthropist, although he said of himself: "I am a showman by profession&#; and all the gilding shall make nothing else of me."^[2] According to Barnum's critics, his personal aim was "to put money in his own coffers".^[2] The adage "there's a sucker born every minute" has frequently been attributed to him, although no evidence exists that he had coined the phrase.^[3]

Barnum became a small-business owner in his early twenties and founded a weekly newspaper before moving to New York City in He embarked on an entertainment career, fir