James Anthony Bailey

James Anthony Bailey (July 4, 1847 – April 11, 1906) was the creator of the modern circus. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=A Cesar Among Showmen. James A. Bailey, The Partner And Successor Of Barnum. He Is The Creator Of The Modern Circus. His Tremendous Energy And Working Ability. How He Became What He Is. |url=http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B00E6DC163AE533A2575AC1A9629C94609ED7CF|quote=One of the most modest little men that ever lived has been forced to the front by the death of P.T. Barnum. James Anthony Bailey for ten years has been Mr. Barnum's partner. He can, without exaggeration, be called the creator of the modern circus. He has lifted the circus to a standard that renders almost ridiculous the laws that once were so necessary for its regulation. |publisher=New York Times |date=April 19, 1891 |accessdate=2007-07-21 ]

Biography

He was born James Anthony McGuiness in Detroit, Michigan. Orphaned at the age of eight, McGuinness was working as a bellhop in Pontiac, Michigan when he was discovered by Fred Harrison Bailey (a nephew of circus pioneer Hachaliah Bailey) as a teenager. Bailey gave McGuiness a job as his assistant and the two traveled together for many years. James Anthony eventually adopted Bailey's surname to become James A. Bailey. Bailey later associated with James E. Cooper and, by the time he was 25, he was manager of the Cooper and Bailey circus. He then met with P.T. Barnum and together they established Barnum and Bailey's Circus (for which Bailey was instrumental in obtaining Jumbo the Elephant) in 1881. In 1919, Barnum and Bailey's joined with the Ringling Brothers to form the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. James Anthony Bailey was married to Ruth McCaddon of Zanesville, Ohio. He died of erysipelas in 1906 in Mount Vernon, New York. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=James A. Bailey, King Of Circus Men, is Dead. News Kept From Performers Till The Show Was Over. Widow Gets Circus Stock. Showman Died Of Erysipelas At His Country Home Near Mount Vernon After A Week's Illness. |url=http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=950DEEDC113EE733A25751C1A9629C946797D6CF |quote=While the band blared and the clowns made fun and the elephants walked around at the circus last night for the thousands in Madison Square Garden, there were few among the spectators who knew that James A. Bailey, the backbone of the "greatest show on earth," lay dead in his home, The Knolls, near Mount Vernon. |publisher=New York Times |date=April 12, 1906 |accessdate=2007-07-21 ]

External links

*findagrave|6817434e

References