Gilbert R. Spalding
circus impresario
"Dr." Gilbert Reynolds Spalding, sometimes spelled Spaulding, (14 January 1812 – 6 April 1880) was an American showman, circus owner and innovator, being the first to own his own showboat, constructed the first showboat to contain an entire circus and in 1856 the first to send an entire circus on tour in its own railroad cars.
Early life
Spalding was born in Coeymans in Albany County, New York, the son of Nancy Reynolds Spalding (1793–1862) and Guy Carleton Spalding (1780–1854). In 1838 he married Cornelia Waldron (1822–1880). Their children were: Fanny Josephine Spalding (1840–1847); Charles Alfred Spalding (1842–1930), and Henry Waldron Spalding (1844–1874). He became known as "Doc" Spalding because he owned a drug and paint store at the corner of Lydius and Pearl Streets in Albany from 1840 to 1846.
Spalding's North American Circus
In about 1843 he accepted the circus belonging to Sam H. Nichols as security for a loan, allowing it to continue under Nichols' management until Spalding, realising he would not recoup his money as Nichols was doing bad business, visited the circus intending to bring it to Albany to sell it. However, finding that he enjoyed the circus life and that his temporary management was successful he decided to keep it as Spalding's North American Circus. In 1844 Spalding was carrying a ninety-foot tent around and had several stands at which people were turned away after 2,000 tickets were sold. In 1845 his circus was touring in Canada and during the 1847-48 season it was in New Orleans before moving up to the Mississippi River. Billed at this time as "The largest in the world.
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