P.T. Barnum

From M.R. Werner.  Barnum.  (Harcourt, Brace & Company, 1923).

Barnum's American Museum in New York City opened in 1842 and lasted until 1865, when it burned down in a spectacular fire.

Jumbo the Elephant died in September 1885 in St. Thomas, Ontario, hit by a freight train.

Barnum was greatly involved in helping to build Bridgeport, Connecticut as a manufacturing city.  He made clocks through the Terry and Barnum Manufacturing Company.  In the early 1850's he was approached to financially save the Jerome Clock Company of New Haven, Connecticut, the largest clock manufacturer in the U.S.  Through misrepresentation on the clock company's part and poor judgement on Barnum's, he himself was forced into bankruptcy, ironically proving the dictum (misattributed to him) that there's a sucker born every minute.  For more information on this chapter in his life, read Humbugged and Bankrupt.