Charles Stratton—or General Tom Thumb to his fans around the world—was an American showman legendary for his small stature and command of the stage. Charles isn’t just history’s most famous little ...

General Tom Thumb only stood about three feet, four inches tall. But he made a huge impact during his life as a 19th-century sideshow performer promoted by P.T. Barnum. He appeared before queens ...

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This article was originally published with the title “ General Tom Thumb and Other Midgets ” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 217 No. 1 (July 1967), p. 102 doi:10.1038 ...

Michael Grade reveals the story of General Tom Thumb, the world's first global show business celebrity who went from humble beginnings in America to international superstardom.

Showman P.T. Barnum (Burl Ives) plans with a balloonist (Troy Donahue) and an inventor (Gert Frobe) to send Gen. Tom Thumb in a rocket to the moon.