P. T. Barnum

P. T. Barnum was the owner of Barnum and Bailey's Circus, commonly known as "The Greatest Show on Earth". Barnum and his co-owner Bailey travelled the world with their circus and on infrequent occasions would visit the city of London. (PROSE: The Terror of the Thames) The Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith visited his circus in 1885. Their presence inadvertently led to the death of Jumbo the Elephant. (AUDIO: The Wondrous Box)

In 1897 Barnum brought his Greatest Show on Earth to London. Strax, Vastra and Jenny Flint purchased tickets to see the show. Shortly after, the trio of investigators rescued a dozen children who had been turned into merchildren and enslaved by their Esturian captors. A week after the rescue, they left the children in the care of Barnum rather than allow them to continue begging for scraps on the streets of London. In thanks, Barnum taught Strax how to juggle. (PROSE: The Terror of the Thames)

Henry Gordon Jago once compared Mr Wednesday to Barnum. (AUDIO: The Backwards Men)

Behind the scenes

Barnum was played by Roger Ashton-Griffiths in the film Gangs of New York.