John Ringling
(1866-1936)

Died aged c. 70

John Ringling was born in 1866 in MacGregor, Iowa. Together with his brothers he founded the most successful circus in the world in 1884. John took control of the circus after his brother Charles died in 1926. In 1905 he married Mable Burton and they began spending winters in Florida, first in Tarpon Springs and Tampa and ultimately in Sarasota. In 1926 he built the exotic Venetian palace, Ca’ d’Zan (Venetian dialect for "House of John") in Sarasota. The circus industry was a critical element of Ringling’s early financial success, and it was the vehicle that allowed him to indulge his love of art. During his circus years, he collected more than 600 Baroque masterpieces. His collection of Rubens’ work is thought to be the finest in the world. Upon his death in 1936, John Ringling willed his art museum, residence and its entire contents to the State of Florida.

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