In February 1863, Mathew Brady photographed an event in New York City that pushed the Civil War off the front pages of daily newspapers. It was the wedding of two midgets, General Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren.

Twenty-five-year-old Thumb was born of normal parents but only grew to thirty-five inches in height. His bride, Lavinia, was four years younger and one inch shorter. They were both employed by P. T. Barnum.

Wedding

The wedding took place in Grace Church in New York City. On their honeymoon, the Thumbs visited Washington, D.C., and President Lincoln gave a reception for them at the White House.

Visiting the White House

Lincoln’s son, Tad, could not take his eyes off the small couple. He thought Lavinia looked like his mother and remarked, “Isn’t it funny that Father is so tall and Mr. and Mrs. Thumb are so little?” President Lincoln overheard his son and commented, “My boy, God likes to do funny things. Here you have the long and the short of it.”

 

Source of quote: Theodore James, Jr., “Tom Thumb’s Giant Wedding,” Smithsonian, September 1973, p. 57.