Dates

• Existence: 1838-01-04 - 1883-07-15

Biography

Tom Thumb was born Charles Sherwood Stratton on 4th January 1838, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Sherwood Edward Stratton, a carpenter, and his wife, Cynthia.

In 1842, P. T. Barnum discovered Charles, who measured 25 inches and weighed 15 pounds, only six pounds more than his birth weight. Barnum toured the child as an 11-year-old European marvel and taught him to sing, dance, mime and act and renamed him Tom Thumb after the character from European fairytales.

Barnum arrived in Liverpool on 5th February 1844 with Tom Thumb, who was already a very successful act in the USA. Tom was smuggled ashore in his mother's arms as Barnum wanted to conceal his new marvel from the eyes of the non-paying public.

Upon his arrival in England the British showmen were amazed that Barnum was hoping to attract so much business for simply exhibiting a dwarf. However, Barnum in the shape of Tom Thumb, created a novelty act which would become one of the greatest attractions of the Victorian Era.

Early appearances in London were not as successful as Barnum hoped so he arranged to exhibit Tom at perhaps the most famous sideshow venue in London in the nineteenth century, the Egyptian Hall. Part natural history collection, sideshow and magic venue it would be the scene for many of the greatest sideshows and magic acts of the Victorian period.

Barnum opened the show in the middle of March after which he received an invitation to meet the Queen on the 23rd. Determined to make the most of this invitation Barnum placed a notice on the door of the hall stating "Closed this evening, General Tom Thumb being at Buckingham Palace by command of her Majesty."

Charles Stratton was presented to Queen Victoria and her family on three occasions that summer and Barnum received a handsome fee for his services, but that was only a small part of the benefits of this acquaintance. Such was the force of the Court example that it was now deemed unfashionable, almost disloyal, not to see Tom Thumb. Carriages of the nobility, fifty or sixty at a time, were to be seen at Barnum's door in Piccadilly. The Egyptian Hall was crowded at every exhibition and the net profits were on the average more than $500 per day from 20th March to 20th July.

Portraits of the tiny General were for sale everywhere and were eagerly purchased by thousands. Musical compositions were dedicated to him, and songs were sung in his honour.

The discovery or creation of Tom Thumb surpassed all of Barnum’s previous business achievements. Such was the interest in Tom Thumb that his marriage to Lavinia Warren in 1863 dominated New York Society and pushed the Civil War off the front page, with thousands lining the streets to see the bride arrive for the ceremony in a specially built miniature wedding carriage. Charles and Lavinia Stratton toured the world earning contracts of $30,000 a year with Barnum stating in his autobiography that the American Museum alone sold £300 worth of photographic souvenirs a day of the happy couple.

Dwarf and midget exhibitors such as Major Mite, Harold Pyott the English Tom Thumb and Anita the Living Doll, followed in the example of Charles Stratton and became highly successful sideshow novelties. The effect of Barnum on the English showmen and the public was immense and freak exhibits were found in a range of exhibitions including shop fronts, penny gaffs, music halls and travelling fairs.

Tom Thumb died of a stroke on 15 July 1883 at 45 years of age.

Found in 1 Collection or Record: