5. General Tom Thumb became a close acquaintance of the noticeably much taller Abraham Lincoln following a visit to the White House
One of the most acclaimed Americans of his age, Phineas Taylor Barnum – commonly known by his initials – was the successful showman behind the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Drawing large audiences throughout the Civil War to his museum, the forerunner to his more famous show, one of Barnum’s most popular attractions included Charles Sherwood Stratton. Known by his stage name “General Tom Thumb”, Stratton, who was only ninety-nine centimeters tall, was perhaps the most famous dwarf of his age, meeting Queen Victoria on two separate occasions as well as many other leading figures of European royalty.
First introduced to Abraham Lincoln in 1862, the meeting could only be described as visually incredible by observers, with the towering six-foot-four-inch Lincoln looming over his diminutive guest. Becoming reputedly friendly following the visit, with Barnum, ever the self-promoter, later bringing his entire entourage of wonders to the White House for display, in 1863 Stratton’s marriage to Lavinia Warren became front-page news across America. Holding their reception at the Metropolitan Hotel in New York City, following one of the largest wedding parties in history, comprising more than ten thousand guests, Stratton and his new wife retired to the White House to be received by the accommodating Lincolns.