Joyce, or Joice, Heth is billed as"Nurse to George Washington (the Father of our Country) The Greatest Natural and National Curiosity in the World." Blind, appearing minutes from death, and claiming to be 161 years old, she had been elaborately trained as a hoax by Barnum and his assistants. She would ramble on incessantly about tales of young George and reflect upon religious matters. Typically, Barnum denies the hoax publicly, but admits all ten years later to journalist Albert Smith in England. Heth died on February 19, 1836. She helped launch Barnum’s career by giving him financial success, substantial press, notoriety, and the cache of controversy.