Tom Thumb is the name of a traditional hero in English folklore who was no bigger than his father's thumb. The name is often adopted for people or objects of small stature, including:

• Tom Thumb was the name of the first American-built steam locomotive used on a common-carrier railroad. Designed and built by Peter Cooper in 1830, it was designed to convince owners of the newly formed Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to use steam engines. Cooper held a race between Tom Thumb and a horse along Baltimore and Ohio tracks near Baltimore, Maryland. Tom Thumb led until an engine belt slipped. The horse then pulled ahead and won.
• General Tom Thumb was the stage name of Charles Sherwood Stratton (1838-1883), a midget who achieved great fame under American circus pioneer P.T. Barnum.
• Tom Thumb was the name of a movie from 1958 directed by George Pal. Cast included Peter Sellers.

External link

• The History Of Tom Thumb; to which are added the stories of The Cat And The Mouse and Fire! Fire! Burn stick!; editor Henry Altemus , Project Gutenberg edition.