# Charity Barnum — Struggles and Triumphs character guide > Charity Barnum in Struggles and Triumphs by P. T. Barnum. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Charity, Barnum, Mrs. Barnum **First appearance:** 0003-i-early-life ## Snapshot Barnum's first wife, whose steady worth he cites—half-jokingly—as the true fortune that keeps him solvent through bankruptcy and scandal. ## Who they are Charity is the domestic anchor of Barnum's restless, speculative life, the partner whose practical value he measures in pounds when creditors close in. When Thackeray offers sympathy for his financial ruin, Barnum laughs that his wife is worth thirty or forty thousand—a wry tribute to the stability she provides. Her presence in the narrative keeps the showman's triumphs tethered to a household that survives his risks. ## Relationships ### [Jenny Lind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/characters/jenny_lind) _friendship_ Charity Barnum, P.T. Barnum's wife, develops a warm personal friendship with the singer Jenny Lind during her American tour. ### [Rev. Dr. E. H. Chapin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/characters/rev_dr_e_h_chapin) _social_ Charity Barnum and Rev. Dr. E. H. Chapin are acquaintances through Barnum's social and philanthropic circles. ### [Mrs. General Tom Thumb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/characters/mrs_general_tom_thumb) _friendship_ Charity Barnum acts as a maternal friend and protector to Mrs. General Tom Thumb. ### [Commodore Nutt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/characters/commodore_nutt) _friendship_ Charity Barnum shows kindness and maternal care toward Commodore Nutt, a little person performer. ### [Jenny Lind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/characters/jenny_lind) _friendship_ Charity Barnum, P.T. Barnum's wife, develops a warm personal friendship with the singer Jenny Lind during her American tour. ### [Rev. Dr. E. H. Chapin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/characters/rev_dr_e_h_chapin) _social_ Charity Barnum and Rev. Dr. E. H. Chapin are acquaintances through Barnum's social and philanthropic circles. ### [Commodore Nutt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/characters/commodore_nutt) _friendship_ Charity Barnum shows kindness and maternal care toward Commodore Nutt, a little person performer. ### [Rev. Dr. E. H. Chapin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/characters/rev_dr_e_h_chapin) _social_ Charity Barnum and Rev. Dr. E. H. Chapin are acquaintances through Barnum's social and philanthropic circles. ### [Mrs. General Tom Thumb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/characters/mrs_general_tom_thumb) _friendship_ Charity Barnum acts as a maternal friend and protector to Mrs. General Tom Thumb. ### [Jenny Lind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/characters/jenny_lind) _friendship_ Charity Barnum, P.T. Barnum's wife, develops a warm personal friendship with the singer Jenny Lind during her American tour. ### [Mrs. General Tom Thumb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/characters/mrs_general_tom_thumb) _friendship_ Charity Barnum acts as a maternal friend and protector to Mrs. General Tom Thumb. ### [Commodore Nutt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/characters/commodore_nutt) _friendship_ Charity Barnum shows kindness and maternal care toward Commodore Nutt, a little person performer. ## In the story ### [Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters/dedication) Barnum's wife, to whom the book is dedicated as part of his family. ### [Early Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters/i-early-life) Barnum's mother, who taught him Sunday school lessons, whipped him for losing handkerchiefs and stockings, and advised him before his visit to Ivy Island. ### [Incidents and Anecdotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters/ii-incidents-and-anecdotes) First introduced as 'Chairy' Hallett; Barnum escorts her home during a thunderstorm and is favorably impressed. ### [In Business for Myself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters/iii-in-business-for-myself) Referred to as 'Chairy' Hallett, the tailoress whom Barnum courts during this period. ### [IV: Struggles for a Livelihood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters/iv-struggles-for-a-livelihood) Married to Barnum in 1829; referred to as 'Charity Hallett' before marriage and 'one of the best women in the world.' ### [My First Travelling Company](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters/vi-my-first-travelling-company) Barnum's wife; he returns home to spend a few weeks with his family after disbanding the company in Nashville. ### [XI: General Tom Thumb in England](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters/xi-general-tom-thumb-in-england) Not mentioned in this chapter. ### [XIV: In England Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters/xiv-in-england-again) Travels with Barnum to England and stays in a rented London house. ### [Clouds and Sunshine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters/xxvi-clouds-and-sunshine) Barnum's sick wife is mentioned as being driven by her physician to a secluded spot on Long Island for her health. ### [Rest, but Not Rust](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters/xxvii-rest-but-not-rust) Owned the Museum property lease; her income from the lease supported the family during Barnum's difficulties. ### [XXX: In Holland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters/xxx-in-holland) Barnum's wife; joins him in London with their two youngest daughters, living economically in furnished lodgings. ### [Richard's Himself Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters/xxxiii-richard-s-himself-again) Lives frugally, contributes her income and property savings to help extinguish Barnum's debts. ### [East Bridgeport](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters/xxxv-east-bridgeport) Barnum's wife; her impaired health and need for a settled home prompted the building of Lindencroft. ### [Political and Personal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters/xxxviii-political-and-personal) Mentioned implicitly as part of the household at Lindencroft during the burglary attempt. ### [The American Museum in Ruins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters/xxxix-the-american-museum-in-ruins) Mentioned indirectly as Barnum spends the night quietly at home in Bridgeport after the fire. ### [Public Lecturing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters/xlii-public-lecturing) Implied as part of Barnum's domestic life, though not directly named in the excerpts. ### [XLIV: Curious Coincidences.—Number Thirteen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters/xliv-curious-coincidences-number-thirteen) Barnum's wife; mentioned as being sick at home during his Western trip. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/characters/charity_barnum - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/characters