P. T. (Phineas Taylor) Barnum

Born in Bethel, Connecticut, in 1810, P. T. Barnum became one of the best-known entertainers and promoters of the 19th century. He built his reputation by attracting huge public attention to exhibitions, performers, and curiosities, and later became closely associated with the American circus. His career also included writing, and his autobiographical works helped spread the larger-than-life image he created around himself.

Barnum's name is especially linked with his American Museum in New York, the promotion of singer Jenny Lind's American tour, and the circus enterprise he developed with James A. Bailey. He was famous for sensational advertising and for presenting entertainment on a grand scale, though modern accounts also note that some of his early success came from deceptive promotions and exploitative acts.

Later in life, he was active in public affairs in Connecticut and served as mayor of Bridgeport. He died there in 1891, but his influence on modern promotion, celebrity culture, and mass entertainment has lasted far beyond his own era.