The Humbugs of the World

P. T. Barnum: An Account of humbugs, delusions, impositions, quackeries, deceits and deceivers generally, in all ages, written by the famous expert in the field - P. T. Barnum. Phineas Taylor Barnum (July 5, 1810 - April 7, 1891) was an American showman remembered for hoaxes and for founding the circus that became the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Barnum never flinched from his stated goal ""to put money in his own coffers."" He was a businessman, his profession was entertainment, and he was perhaps the first ""show business"" millionaire. He never said ""There's a sucker born every minute"" but his rebuttal to critics was often ""I am a showman by profession...and all the gilding shall make nothing else of me.""