Ringling brothers facts for kids
The Ringling brothers were seven American siblings who turned their small group of performers into one of America's biggest circuses. This happened in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Four of the brothers were born in McGregor, Iowa: Alfred T., Charles, John, and Henry William. The family lived in McGregor for twelve years, from 1860 to 1872. The Ringling family then moved to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and later settled in Baraboo, Wisconsin, in 1875. They were of German descent. Their parents were Heinrich Friedrich August Ringling and Marie Salome Juliar.
In 1919, the brothers combined their Ringling Brothers Circus with another leading circus, Barnum and Bailey. This created the famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. This circus was a major part of entertainment for about 98 years, until 2017.
Meet the Ringling Brothers and Sister
The Ringling family included seven brothers and one sister, all of whom played a part in their family's famous circus journey.
Albert Carl Ringling (1852–1916)
Albert, also known as "Al," was one of the older brothers. He was a key founder of the circus. He passed away at the age of 63 in Wisconsin.
Augustus "Gus" Ringling (1852–1907)
Augustus was also a founder of the circus. He was mostly self-taught. He died at age 55.
Otto Ringling (1858–1911)
Otto passed away at the home of his younger brother John in Manhattan, New York. He was in New York to see a show at Madison Square Garden.
Alfred Theodore Ringling (1861–1919)
Alfred, known as "Alf," was a skilled juggler. He had a son, Richard T. Ringling, and a daughter, Marjorie Joan Ringling. His granddaughter, Mabel Ringling, married an elephant trainer named Richard Durant. Alfred lived in Petersburg, New Jersey (now Oak Ridge). He helped create Lake Swannanoa, which became a central part of the Lake Swannanoa lake community. His property was also used as the winter home for his son Richard's circus, the R.T. Richards Circus. Alfred died in his New Jersey home at age 58.
Charles Edward Ringling (1863–1926)
Charles was another important brother in the circus business. He helped manage and grow the family's entertainment empire.
John Nicholas Ringling (1866–1936)
John was a talented singer and a professional clown. He played a big role in the circus, especially after it merged with Barnum and Bailey.
Henry William George Ringling (1869–1918)
Henry was the youngest of the brothers. He passed away on October 10, 1918, at the age of 49.
Ida Loraina Wilhelmina Ringling (1874–1950)
Ida was the only sister among the Ringling siblings. She married Harry Whitestone North in 1902. Their sons, John Ringling North and Henry Ringling North, later became important figures in the circus world, continuing the family's legacy.
