Philip Astley, the father of the circus was born on 8 January, 279 years ago. Here are 15 facts about the man who first brought together equestrian displays, acrobats, strongmen and clowns in the circus ring.
1 Philip Astley was a cabinetmaker’s son from Newcastle-under-Lyme.
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| An illustration from Circus Mania |
3 He was a sergeant major in the Fifthteenth Light Dragoons.
4 Astley’s first displays of trick horse-riding were in the open air at Half Penny Hatch just south of Westminster Bridge in London.
5 His wife Patty provided musical accompaniment on a drum and also performed on horseback.
6 Their first performance was on Easter Monday, 4 April, 1768.
7 Astley’s circus performers included a strongman called Signor Colpi and a clown called Mr Merryman.
8 Astley established the still-standard diameter of the circus ring as 42-ft.
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| Astley's later, grander amphitheatre |
10 Astley was invited to perform before King Louis XV of France in 1772.
11 He built France’s first purpose-built circus building, the Amphitheatre Anglais, in Paris.
12 He established circuses in 20 European cities.
13 Astley’s Amphitheatre is mentioned in books by Charles Dickens and Jane Austen.
14 His name is commemorated in the dance tunes Astley’s Ride, Astley’s Flag and Astley’s Hornpipe.
15 Astley died on 27 January 1814 and was buried in Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Paris.
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