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How Abraham Lincoln Hosted The 1st American Celebrity Wedding Reception At The White House
In the middle of the Civil War, President Lincoln hosted a wedding reception in Washington for two of the biggest celebrities in the country
During the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President had his hands full, as the Civil War raged throughout the United States. That didn’t always prevent him from handling other, lighter moments in his tenure. This included hosting the wedding reception of famous P.T. Barnum circus performer General Tom Thumb.
Charles Stratton was born in 1838, weighing in at a robust nine-and-a-half pounds. He stopped growing normally when he was around six months old, ultimately reaching an adult height of 3'4”. Living in a time when understanding and adaptation weren’t the norm, options as an adult for making a living were limited.
When Stratton was still just a young child, he came to the attention of promoter P.T. Barnum. He taught the boy to be a stage pro, including imitating famous people, singing and dancing. Stratton first went on tour with him when he was only five and eventually was given the performing name of “General Tom Thumb.” As he progressed into adulthood, he became Barnum’s top performer and one of…
