Caroline Cornelia Thompson: What Happened To P. T. Barnum’s Daughter?

Caroline Cornelia Thompson

Caroline Cornelia Thompson is the daughter of the late P. T. Barnum. Caroline’s father was a popular American showman, entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, and politician. He is the co-founder of the Barnum & Bailey Circus. He was the writer of several books and was significantly involved in politics.

Caroline Cornelia Thompson: Bio Summary

Name Caroline Cornelia Thompson
Date of birth 27 May 1833
Died 19 May 1911
Famous asdaughter of P. T. Barnum
Spouse David William Thompson
Children P. T. Barnum Thompson and Francis B. Thompson Leigh
Parents P. T. Barnum and Charity Hallett
SiblingsFrances Irena Barnum, Helen Maria Hurd, Pauline Taylor Seeley

What Happened To P. T. Barnum’s Daughter?

P. T. Barnum’s daughter Caroline Cornelia Thompson was killed by a brain concussion received in a fall. She died on 19 May 1911, in Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut, USA, at age 77. She was born on 27 May 1833 in Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA to P. T. Barnum and Charity Hallett.

Caroline Cornelia had a great relationship with her father. The father and daughter were very close. As she grew older she took her mother’s place and was her father’s traveling companion. She frequently traveled with him during his years promoting his circus.

According to sources, she traveled alongside her father during his production of Jenny Lind’s tour of America in 1950 and she sometimes poses as Lind to allow the opera singer a safe exit from her shows.

Caroline Cornelia Thompson got married to David William Thompson, a Bridgeport businessman on 19 October 1852. On the day of their wedding, Caroline’s father’s mansion was nearly burned down. She shared two children with her husband.

Their son Phineas Taylor Barnum Thompson, (P. T. Barnum Thompson) died on 27 February 1868. Their daughter, Francis B. Thompson Leigh, was born on 27 December 1853 and died on 26 January 1939 (aged 85).

Caroline’s Parents Were Married For 44 Years

Caroline Cornelia Thompson’s parents got married on November 8, 1829. They expanded their family and produced four children including Caroline. Caroline’s three siblings are Helen Maria Hurd (1840–1915), Frances Irena Barnum (1842–1844), and Pauline Taylor Seeley (1846–1877).

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Caroline Cornelia Thompson’s mother Charity Hallett died on November 19, 1873, leaving her children and their father P. T. Barnum widowed. The couple was married for 44 years before death separated them.

Caroline’s Father Remarried

After Caroline Cornelia Thompson’s mother died, her father P. T. Barnum got married to Nancy Fish, who became Caroline Cornelia’s stepmother. Nancy is the daughter of P. T. Barnum’s close friend John Fish. Nancy was 40 years younger than P. T. Barnum.

It was alleged that P. T. Barnum and Nancy Fish were already seeing each other before the death of Charity Hallett, P. T. Barnum’s first wife. P. T. Barnum was in Southport to be with Nancy Fish and her father John and did not even attend his wife’s funeral.

P. T. Barnum and Nancy got married both in London and New York City. They were married in 1874, at the Strand in London on 14 February and then at a Greek Orthodox church in New York City on 15 September in front of a large crowd.

The duo went on a honeymoon at the Windsor Hotel in New York City. They appeared to be happily married and P. T. Barnum’s children were devoted to their stepmother, Nancy despite their similar ages. They were married until P. T. Barnum’s death.

Caroline’s Father Passed Away

Caroline Cornelia Thompson’s father who was born Phineas Taylor Barnum, died on April 7, 1891, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S. He died at age 80 from a stroke at home. He is buried in Mountain Grove Cemetery, Bridgeport, Connecticut, a cemetery he designed himself.

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P. T. Barnum left his widow Nancy Fish $100,000, their home Marina, which they both planned, built, and furnished in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He also left her an annuity of $40,000.

Author

  • Ruth Kai Botchway is a Senior Editor at Dicytrends.com. She is a graduate of All Stars Media College (2021) with a Diploma in Journalism and Media Studies. With more than two years experience in Journalism, she has served as an intern at Accra FM and worked with Green TV and Ashiaman TV. She worked as a Maritime Journalist/ influencer, producing Port and Maritime agenda initially aired on Ashiaman TV. You can reach her via email: Ruthbotch1912@gmail.com

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Ruth Kai Botchway

Ruth Kai Botchway is a Senior Editor at Dicytrends.com. She is a graduate of All Stars Media College (2021) with a Diploma in Journalism and Media Studies. With more than two years experience in Journalism, she has served as an intern at Accra FM and worked with Green TV and Ashiaman TV. She worked as a Maritime Journalist/ influencer, producing Port and Maritime agenda initially aired on Ashiaman TV. You can reach her via email: Ruthbotch1912@gmail.com

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