Biography.guide
Home β€Ί People β€Ί Sideshow performer β€Ί Calvin Edson
Portrait of Calvin Edson

Calvin Edson

b. 1788

American 19th century circus performer

Sideshow performer
Don't just read it β€” keep itBiographies to ownE-book Β· Audio Β· Video From $7 β†’

About Calvin Edson

Born 1788. Calvin Edson was a sideshow performer.

Calvin Edson (born March 4, 1788) was an American man known for being the first well known "Living Skeleton" in American sideshows.

Early life Edson was born in 1788 in Stafford, Connecticut to Eliab and Prudence Edson and the family moved to Randolph, Vermont shortly after he was born. He was one of eleven children. He had one brother, Alexander, who was also emaciated in appearance. After a period of living outdoors with his regiment in 1814 he began to lose weight rapidly. In 1831 he traveled to Europe where his promotional materials said that he had been "introduced to the College of Physicians and Surgeons" in Paris where he was claimed to have been called "the greatest phenomena of nature the world has ever beheld." Edson traveled around the US with broadsheets announcing his performances where he put himself on display and also danced. These broadsheets had illustrations of Edson on them and were later reproduced in newspapers. He performed in a theater production as a character called Jeremiah Thin.

Edson's death was reported in newspapers nationwide in 1832 attributed to oculist John Scudder Jr. of Scudder's American Museum. It was claimed that his body was stolen from its tomb and inspected, and he was said "to have had a tapeworm twelve to fourteen feet in length." He was, in fact, alive and had just been on a short trip.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it β€”
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop β€” from $7

Instant download Β· yours to keep Β· every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Born
1788
Birth century
Occupation
Sideshow performer

Frequently asked questions

Who was Calvin Edson?

American 19th century circus performer

When was Calvin Edson born?

Calvin Edson was born in 1788.

What was Calvin Edson's occupation?

Calvin Edson was a sideshow performer.

Sources & further reading

Β· Wikipedia: Calvin Edson

Β· Wikidata: Q133698853

Β· DBpedia: Calvin Edson

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Calvin Edson. https://biography.guide/calvin-edson/

MLA: "Calvin Edson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/calvin-edson/.

Chicago: "Calvin Edson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/calvin-edson/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 Β· Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:02 UTC