Caroline Cornelia Thompson, who was born into one of America’s most interesting families, led a life that was a part of the great theatrical realm of the land. Growing up as the daughter of P.T. Barnum, she had a front-row seat to the changes of American entertainment in the age of the 1800s and from her birth, carved out a life for herself in that society.
Early Life
Caroline Cornelia Thompson was born in 1833 in Bethel, Connecticut, into a family that was to become unprecedentedly associated with show business. Daughter of the famous showman and the founder of the circus P.T. Barnum, she had all the luxuries a child could dream of.
But at the same time experienced an extraordinary childhood that would lay the foundation for the further development of her father’s entertainments business. Caroline’s mother Charity Hallett offered motherly responsibility of making sure Caroline and all her siblings were well educated and of high standing in society despite their father’s sometimes outrageous behavior on the outside.
Caroline was born and raised in the same age bracket as her father career blossomed in the entertainment industry. She used to tag along her family to different shows and exhibition and therefore received frequent experiences in the entertainment industry her father was transforming.
Both her elementary education and high school was in prestigious schools in Connecticut her major interests were in literature and the arts a passion that defined her career.
Career
It is quite apparent that unlike her father, Caroline decided to lead a much more conventional sort of life for any woman of her class during the nineteenth century. In New York society circles she earned a reputation as the social hostess and a benefactress.
Despite all that, Caroline prided herself in involvement in several philanthropic activities throughout her adult life including education and art. Despite her elite background she personally helped several charitable organizations in New York, following the long-family tradition of serving people, which both her parents cherished.
About Parents
Caroline’s father P. T. Barnum was the pioneer and perhaps the most renowned showman of the nineteenth century. He is well accredited for his creativity h in entertainment and advertising and was the founder of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Few of the many things that he left behind for the American popular culture, he was also a writer, publisher, and a philanthropist. He actually was a family man who provided as well as could for his children’s education and upbringing.
Charity Hallett, Caroline’s mother wed P.T. Barnum when she was only nineteen and the marriage was conducted in 1829. A truly strong and dignified woman, Charity consistently took care of all household and children when her husband was creating his entertainment business.
She was the glue that holds the family together especially when Barnum experienced some cash crunch problems and or when Barnum was busy in business. Caroline Cornelia Thompson’s biography presents one more view of the private life of one of the most well-known American families.