Peter Conklin  (1812-1924) Prospect 415

 Born in New York City on May 28, 1812, he was the son of John and Katherine Conklin and lived on Barkley Street in Manhattan. When Peter was 5, they moved to Cincinnati. His life in the entertainment world began when he entered a somersaulting contest, and being one of the winners, was awarded the prize to be a member of Spalding & Rogers Floating Palace, which was a showboat. He joined Clark's Troupe of Ethiopian Minstrels in Cincinnati at the age of 12.

 The next year Peter joined Madigan’s Wagon Show. He did an acrobatic show with his brother John called the “White Knights” and did an act “posing”. Madigans was the first circus to travel southward and settled in Texas in territory which was wild and a haven for outlaws. Since it was so dangerous, all women performers were left behind, and the male performers doubled in the female roles. The main clown, Tony Pastor, afraid to remain in Texas, left the circus and Peter became the clown for the circus. At the end of that season Peter and his brother sailed for Europe, only to become shipwrecked off Cape Hateras and were the only survivors besides the ship’s crew. They were rescued and continued on to Europe where they performed for Queen Victoria and other royalty. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he returned to Cincinnati and formed the Conklin Brother's Gymnasts.His brother George was a lion tamer and animal trainer. His brother John was known as the “Modern Hercules”, a cannon ball juggler and died in 1885 in Saint Louis.

 Peter was known as one of the world’s greatest clowns, and he known as “The King’s Jester”. He was a singing clown, with a deep voice that was described as "a delicate avalanche of thunder”. His badge of identity was a large diamond pin.

 Some of the circuses that he performed for were; Barnum, John Robinson’s, L.B. Lent Show, Couper & Bailey, Sells Brothers, W.C. Cole and Burr Robbins. Peter was with Barnum from 1866- 1894 and continued to entertain in Coney Island after his retirement.

 He died in New York at the age of 82 on January 1, 1924.Peter Conklin is buried alongside his wife, Mary.

Photo credit Circus World Museum