Happy Birthday Mr. Bailey

Happy Birthday wishes are going out today to circus showman and legendary owner, James Anthony Bailey. Born on July 4, 1847 in Detroit, Michigan as James Anthony McGuiness. He was orphaned at the age of 8. While working as a bellhop, he was found by a nephew of circus great Hachileah Bailey. Fred Harrison Bailey offered him a position on the circus as his assistant and he gladly took a turn in his life that would make circus history for ever more. Eventually adopting the surname of his mentor, he became James Anthony Bailey.