Phineas Taylor Barnum (July 5, 1810 - April 7,1891) was an American showman, businessman, scam artist and entertainer, remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and for founding the circus that became the Ringling Bros, and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Although Barnum was also an author, publisher, philanthropist, and for some time a politician, he said of himself, "I am a showman by profession…and all the gilding shall make nothing else of me," and his personal aims were " to put money in his own coffers." Barnum became a small business owner in his early twenties, and founded a weekly newspaper, before moving to New York City in 1834. He embarked on an entertainment career, first with a variety troupe called "Barnum's Grand Scientific and Musical Theater," and soon after by purchasing Scudder's American Museum, which he renamed after himself. Barnum used the museum as a platform to promote hoaxes and human curiosities. The circus business was the source of much of his enduring fame. At the end of the 19th century the number of copies printed of his autobiography was second only to the New Testament in North America.

Phineas Taylor Barnum (5 de julio, 1810 – 7 de abril, 1891) Fue un animador de espectáculos americano, empresario y artista reconocido por célebres farsas; por las cuales se le recuerda hasta hoy día y por la fundación del circo que se convirtió en el Ringling Bros. y Barnum & Bailey Circus. Barnum fue también autor de libros, editor, filántropo y por algún tiempo, político, pero solía decir de sí mismo: «Soy un animador de espectáculos por profesión…y ni todo lo que brille me hará ser otra cosa». Barnum era propietario de un pequeño negocio cuando tenía 20 años y fundó un periódico semanal antes de mudarse a la ciudad de Nueva York en 1834.