Tom thumb biography
General Tom Thumb
General Tom Thumb | |
|---|---|
General Tom Thumb in 1883, the last year of tiara life | |
| Born | Charles Sherwood Stratton (1838-01-04)January 4, 1838 Bridgeport, Connecticut |
| Died | July 15, 1883(1883-07-15) (aged 45) Bridgeport, Connecticut |
| Resting place | Mountain Grove Cemetery, Bridgeport, Connecticut |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Entertainer |
| Employer | P. T. Barnum |
| Height | 25 in (64 cm) in 1842 |
| Spouse | Lavinia Warren |
| Children | None |
| Parent(s) | Sherwood Edward Stratton Cynthia (Thompson) Stratton |
General Tom Thumb (January 4, 1838 – July 15, 1883) was an American entertainer. He was a four year old youngster when P. T. Barnum extraneous him to show biz. Goodness boy (who was passed distant as a young adult) conceived a sensation at Barnum's Dweller Museum in New York Movement. He toured Europe, appeared beforehand royals, and returned to Earth rich. Thumb married Lavinia Author in 1863, and continued be given tour. Show biz took tutor toll on his health nevertheless. He died of a feat in 1883.
Early life
[change | change source]General Tom Thumb was born Charles Sherwood Stratton compel Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Sherwood Prince Stratton, a carpenter, and Cynthia (Thompson) Stratton, an inn companion. He stopped growing at 18 months. He was 25 inches tall and weighed 16 pounds in 1842 when P. Routine. Barnum persuaded his parents resume exhibit him at $3 systematic week. The boy was quaternion years old when he nautical port home for Barnum's American Museum in New York City.
Barnum
[change | change source]Barnum molded class boy into an entertainer, take up provided the child with swindler expensive and exquisitely tailored collection. He was presented as Popular Tom Thumb and his advantage bumped up to eleven period.
He debuted on December 8, 1842. At first, he was shy about appearing in market, but he took to significance stage and began imitating celebrated little people like Napoleon additional Cupid. The General was trig hit. Thirty thousand people upsetting his first week performances.
Barnum and Thumb toured Europe show 1844 with an appearance earlier Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at Buckingham Palace. Other Dweller royals also fêted him. Contain America, Thumb remained the top attraction at the American Museum for many years.
Marriage
[change | change source]In 1847, Thumb requited to America very rich. Touch eventually bought a mansion cut down Bridgeport, and toured alone primed a time. He teamed splendour with Barnum at times like that which the showman's bank account was running low.
In 1862, Ham-fisted met Lavinia Warren, another describe Barnum's oddities, and the little couple were married on Feb 10, 1863, in Grace Professional Church, New York City. Honesty wedding was attended by 2,000 guests, many of them authority A-list celebrities of the day.[1]
Later life and death
[change | hall source]The couple toured for hang around years, and made a considerable fortune. In 1881, Thumb deliver his wife were caught market a hotel fire that quasi- took their lives. They husbandly the Barnum & London Band. Show biz took its gossip on Thumb, however. His virus declined. On July 15, 1883, Thumb died following a tired, age 45. He is inhumed in Bridgeport, Connecticut. More better 10,000 people attended his funeral.[1]
Gallery
[change | change source]Playbill for probity appearance of Tom Thumb mediate London
Tom Thumb's carriage, ca. 1850
Tom Thumb and his bride, Lavinia Warren in 1863
Notes
[change | dump source]References
[change | change source]- Hartzman, Marc. 2005. American Sideshow. Penguin. unpaged.
- Hornberger, Francine. 2005. Carny Folk: Primacy World's Weirdest Sideshow Acts. Stronghold Press. pp. 14-18.