High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Thomas Noakes, later known as Tom Norman, (7 May 1860–24 August 1930) was an English businessman and showman. He started his working life as a butcher in Sussex and at 17 moved to London. After viewing an exhibition of an "Electric Lady" next door to his place of work, he went into business with the lady`s manager and began his career as a showman of human oddities. He quickly became successful, for his patter as much as his exhibits, and was called the `Silver King` by American showman P. T. Barnum.