P.T. Barnum By kaylahcolquitt Aug 10, 1835 Barnum begins career as showman he begins as a showman by buying an elderly slave and charging people to see her. Sep 11, 1840 pt arranges tour for swedish singer jenny lind the tour gives him a profit of over 500k 1841 Barnum purchases scudder's american museam 1865 Barnum gets into poltics elected to for Connecticut sate legislator. 1871 establishes traveling circus 1881 Barnum joins forces with James bailey (Barnum and bailey circus) 1891 Barnum dies 1919 Barnum circus merges with Ringling brothers 1967 irvin feld purchases ringling bros and Barnum & Bailey show 2017 circus is shut down permanently.
