This is extremely rare. Wonderful Hand written letter — Good financial content. For other uses with the name Barnum, see Barnum (disambiguation). Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Connecticut House of Representatives. July 5, 1810 Bethel, Connecticut. April 7, 1891 (aged 80) Bridgeport, Connecticut. Mountain Grove Cemetery, Bridgeport. 1873 Nancy Fish m. 1874 – his death. Founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Legislative sponsor of 1879 Connecticut anti-contraception law. Phineas Taylor Barnum (July 5, 1810 – April 7, 1891) was an American politician, showman, and businessman remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and for founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus. And all the gilding shall make nothing else of me. Barnum is widely, but erroneously, credited with coining the phrase There’s a sucker born every minute. Born in Bethel, Connecticut. Barnum became a small-business owner in his early twenties, and founded a weekly newspaper, before moving to New York City in 1834. He embarked on an entertainment career, first with a variety troupe. Called “Barnum’s Grand Scientific and Musical Theater”, and soon after by purchasing Scudder’s American Museum. Which he renamed after himself. Barnum used the museum as a platform to promote hoaxes and human curiosities such as the Feejee mermaid. And General Tom Thumb. In 1850 he promoted the American tour. Of singer Jenny Lind. After economic reversals due to bad investments in the 1850s, and years of litigation and public humiliation, he used a lecture tour, mostly as a temperance. Speaker, to emerge from debt. His museum added America’s first aquarium and expanded the wax-figure. While in New York, he converted to Universalism and was a member of the Church of the Divine Paternity. Now the Fourth Universalist Society in the City of New York. Barnum served two terms in the Connecticut. Legislature in 1865 as a Republican. With the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Over slavery and African-American suffrage, Barnum spoke before the legislature and said, A human soul,’that God has created and Christ died for,’ is not to be trifled with. It may tenant the body of a Chinaman, a Turk, an Arab or a Hottentot – it is still an immortal spirit. Elected in 1875 as Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut. He worked to improve the water supply, bring gas lighting. To streets, and enforce liquor and prostitution. Barnum was instrumental in starting Bridgeport Hospital. Founded in 1878, and was its first president. The circus business was the source of much of his enduring fame. Barnum’s Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan & Hippodrome”, a traveling circus, menagerie and museum of ” freaks. , which adopted many names over the years. Barnum died in his sleep at home in 1891, a. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Autographs\Historical”. The seller is “jaygould” and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped worldwide.