Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Charles Stratton's maternal and paternal grandmothers, Amy and Mary Ann Sharpe, were stated to be small twin girls born on July 11, 1781 (or 1783) in Oxford, New Haven, Connecticut. Robert Gould Shaw. Stratton made his first tour of America at the age of five, with routines that included impersonating characters such as Cupid and Napoleon Bonaparte, as well as singing, dancing, and comical banter with another performer who acted as a straight man. Stratton started his career as a performer at a very young age, his parents willingly putting their son on public display as a … He was buried with Masonic honors by Saint John's Lodge. General Tom Thumb, born Charles Sherwood Stratton, was a dwarf born in the mid-19th century who became a famous circus performer under P.T. X-rays were not discovered until 1895, 12 years after Stratton's death, and the medical techniques of the day were unable to ascertain the pathology (if any) underlying his diminutive size. Stratton's lively and entertaining performances made these types of carnival shows one of the most favored forms of theatrical entertainment in the United States. The maid of honor was Minnie Warren, Lavinia's sister. It was restored by the Barnum Festival Society and Mountain Grove Cemetery Association with funds raised by public subscription.[14]. Corrections? Medium: 1 print : lithograph. Stratton and his wife toured together in Europe as well as British India, in particular the area that would later become Bangladesh. Feb 3, 2017 - Explore Susan Pullen's board "General Tom Thumb" on Pinterest. In 1863 Stratton married Lavinia Warren (1841–1919)—another of Barnum’s performers, known as the “Little Queen of Beauty”—in an elaborately staged ceremony at Grace Episcopal Church in New York City. 1 photograph : albumen print on card mount ; mount 10 x 6 cm (carte de visite format) | Photograph shows P.T. The boy (who was passed off as a young adult) created a sensation at Barnum's American Museum in New York City.He toured Europe, appeared before royals, and returned to America rich.Thumb married Lavinia Warren in 1863, and continued to tour. The cause of Stratton's extreme shortness is still unknown. His parents became concerned when, after his first birthday, they noticed he had not grown at all in the previous six months. Tom Thumb soon embarked on an American tour, followed by a tour of Europe where he was commanded to appear before Queen Victoria. General Tom Thumb (4 January 1838 - 15 July 1883) was an American entertainer. LC-USZ62-48353) Eager to change his image from promoter of human curiosities to impresario of artistic attractions, Barnum risked his entire fortune by importing Jenny Lind, a Swedish soprano whom he had never seen or heard and who was almost unknown in the United States. Born in Connecticut. First Name General. First Name General #2. His body was proportionate and functional. Charles Stratton, better known by his stage name Tom Thumb, was a dwarf who became a global celebrity in the 19th Century. Then he suddenly stopped growing. As a result, certain dramatic critics did not compare his skills to those of the freak show community of which he was a member, but preferred to judge him on his merits as a professional entertainer. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Also, he was a talented actor, singer, dancer, and comedian. With Russ Tamblyn, June Thorburn, Peter Sellers, Alan Young. In fact, in the United States, General Tom Thumb who was clearly American, was paraded as English whereas in England he quickly became a “Yankee” wonder. The couple married in 1863 and continued performing until retirement in 1872. Updates? "The Fairy Wedding" of General Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton) and Lavinia Warren. [4] Stratton appeared twice before Queen Victoria. Directed by George Pal. He received the Commandery degrees (Masonic Knight Templar) in Hamilton Commandery No. The best man at the wedding was George Washington Morrison ("Commodore") Nutt, another dwarf performer in Barnum's employ. Sarah Winchester. American Sideshow: An Encyclopedia of History's Most Wondrous and Curiously Strange Performers (Tarcher/Penguin 2005), by Marc Hartzman. From the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Stratton, Victoria and Albert Museum - Biography of Tom Thumb, General Tom Thumb - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). March 4, 1864. The bride and groom were General Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton) and the Queen of Beauty Lavinia Warren, of P.T. The earliest allusions to Tom occur in various 16th-century works such as Reginald Scot's Discovery of Witchcraft(1584), where Tom is cited as one of the supernatural folk employed by servant … Barnum. Stratton made his final appearance in England in 1878. Witty, lyrical, and with a colorful cast of notable figures of the period, The Remarkable Courtship of General Tom Thumb is an evocative, poignant imagining of one man’s story, from a “master of elegant prose and psychological insight” (Entertainment Weekly). Charles Sherwood Stratton (January 4, 1838 – July 15, 1883), better known by his stage name "General Tom Thumb", was an American dwarf, who achieved great fame as a performer under circus pioneer P. T. Barnum. Barnum’s American Museum (which would later become Barnum’s Circus) in New York City. [5], On his return home from his second tour in 1847, aboard the SS Cambria, he attracted the attention of the explorer John Palliser who "was not a little surprised, on entering the state-cabin, to hear the most unnatural shrill little pipe exclaiming, 'Waiter! General Tom Thumb, 1863. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (file no. 5 (Bridgeport, Connecticut), in 1863. He quickly became a celebrated figure in the United States and abroad. By late 1842 (at 4 years old), Stratton had grown only one inch (2.5 cm) from when he was six months old. Apart from this, he was a completely normal, healthy child, with several siblings who were of average size. While Barnum sought to capitalize on Stratton's small stature, he also aimed to highlight and showcase his many true gifts as a performer. PT Barnum. General Tom Thumb was born on January 4, 1838 in Bridgeport, CT. General Tom Thumb … By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Born in 1838 #5. They showed him to their doctor, who said there was little chance Charles would ever reach normal height. Robert Wadlow. Barnum also went into business with Stratton's father, who died in 1855. [5], From the age of seven, Stratton performed in grand full-length fairytale melodramas under the management of P.T. Known across the globe as Gen. Tom Thumb… Capricorns. [13] When she died, more than 35 years later, Lavinia Warren was interred next to him, with a simple gravestone that read "His Wife". But as the tour winds down, an unexpected danger follows Tom and Lavinia back home. Following the wedding, the couple was received by President Lincoln at the White House. A few of the melodramas that Stratton performed were Hop o' My Thumb and the Seven League Boots. Ballyhooing Stratton as, …the American Museum’s stars was Charles Stratton, better known as. Stratton became a Freemason on October 3, 1862. bring me a Welsh rabbit'. He weighed over nine pounds when he was born; however, his growth quickly slowed. However, after viewers were introduced to Stratton and performances, he was able to change the perception people held toward freak shows. The kindness of Strangers' (London: Bloomsbury, 2013). 3 at Bridgeport, Connecticut on October 8, 1862. A year later, Barnum took young Stratton on a tour of Europe, making him an international celebrity. He was 45 years old. Charles Sherwood Stratton (January 4, 1838 – July 15, 1883), better known by his stage name "General Tom Thumb", was an American dwarf, who achieved great fame as a performer under circus pioneer P. T. Barnum. George Washington Morrison ("Commodore") Nutt, Tom Thumb House (Middleborough, Massachusetts), "The real Tom Thumb: History's smallest superstar", "Page 1 Passport Applications, 1795-1905 - Fold3", "Biography of General Tom Thumb, Sideshow Performer", "February 10: "General Tom Thumb" Marries "The Queen of Beauty, "P.T. He later grew to 40 inches (1 metre) and 70 pounds (32 kg). To show biz 1 photograph: albumen print on card mount ; mount 10 x 6 cm ( de., in 1842 wherever he went quickly became a Freemason on October 3, 2017 - Explore Pullen! Married his first cousin Cynthia Thompson, daughter of Joseph Thompson and Mary Ann Sharpe the presentation ``. House on Plymouth Street at Warrentown no bigger than a Thumb, an popular! George Washington Morrison ( `` Commodore '' ) Nutt, another dwarf in. Immediately popular attraction at Barnum 's management, Stratton was noted to be clever in his.... 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