Pre 1793
The modern circus can be traced back to Philip Astley (1742-1814), a British sergeant major and trick rider who established a riding school near Westminster Bridge in 1768. After his discharge from the military, Astley taught riding in the mornings and gave performances demonstrating his riding skills in the afternoon. He rode in a circular arena to give his audiences a good view. He experimented with the size of the ring, but found that if he galloped in a forty-two-foot-diameter circle while standing on the back of a horse, centrifugal and centripetal forces helped him to keep his balance and kept the performers in sight at all times. In 1770, he hired a clown (“Mr. Merryman”), musicians and other performers for his establishment. The addition of these performers marks this as the commonly agreed-upon birth of the modern circus. Astley called the structure where he performed an “amphitheatre” or “riding school.” Charles Hughes, a former employee and now rival horseman, first used the term “circus” to describe his competing production when he opened the “Royal Circus and Equestrian Philharmonic Academy” in 1782. The term describes an enclosed space for displaying horsemanship and a round circular space, but Hughes may have hoped to associate his show the with the legendary spectacles of ancient Rome’s Circus Maximus.
In 1772, Astley traveled to France and presented his riding skills to King Louis XV at Fontainebleau. Ten years later, Astley returned to Paris to open a second amphitheatre at Rue du Faubourg du Temple, near the ‘Boulevard du Crime.’ He was forced to leave Paris when hostilities erupted between the French and the British in 1793. His circus was temporarily taken over by an Italian, Antonio Franconi (1737-1836). With the arrival of Napoleon and the First Empire in 1804, Astley returned to Paris and resumed control of his circus. Astley is credited with building at least nineteen permanent circuses during his lifetime.
In the meantime, Charles Hughes left his circus in London and in 1793 was invited to St. Petersburg Russia to perform for Catherine the Great. Hughes is credited with introducing the circus to Russia, but in fact he only performed exhibitions of trick riding. A Frenchman, Jacques Tourniaire, built the first circus at the Royal Palace in St. Petersburg in 1824, marking the beginning of the Russian circus.
Listed below are events signifying early developments of the circus in America.
1716 |
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"The Lyon of Barbary" arrived in British North American Colonies |
1721 |
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First camel arrives in the British North American Colonies |
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On October 2, 1721 The Boston Gazette ran an advertisement proclaiming, "Just arrived from
Africa, a very large Camel being above Seven Foot high, and Twelve Foot long, and is the first
of its Kind that ever was brought into America, to be seen at the bottom of Cold Lane, where
daily Attendance is given.
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1733 |
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First polar bear arrives in the British North American Colonies |
1768 |
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First Leopard arrived in the British North American Colonies |
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New York Mercuryadvertised on August 1, 1768 a Leopard on view at
‘Abraham Van Dyck's, in the Broad-Way, near St. Paul's Church.’ The entry fee was one shilling.
The advertisement assures readers that the Leopard ‘is well secured with a Chain.’
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1768 |
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Philip Astley opens a riding school in London |
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Astley taught riding lessons in the morning and in the afternoon gave
performances featuring his riding skills. He began with a small paddock but eventually he
gained reknowned throughout London and built a seated amphitheatre. Astley's Amphitheatre had
several avatars throughout London but his appelation to a performance space lasted well into
the nineteenth century. Astley is credited as being the father of the Modern Circus. He highly
influenced the early circus performers in the U.S., particularly John Bill
Ricketts.
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1773-1840 |
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Anti-circus laws in Connecticut and Vermont |
1774 |
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Continental Congress discourages attendence at traveling shows |
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The Eighth Article of the Association of the Continental Congress encouraged industry and
discouraged what the congress deemed to be forms of licentiousness. In addition to dejecting
“Horse-racing, and all Kinds of Gaming, Cock-fighting, Exhibitions of Shows, Plays, and other
expensive Diversions and Entertainments,” it also placed restrictions on excessive mourning
attire. But the Continental Congress was not a legislative body; it was an association of
colonial representatives. While some colonies enforced the articles of the Continental
Congress, they were not required to do so. The congress designed the fourteen articles to drive
a wedge between colonial dependence on Great Britain. Not following the articles might reek of
Loyalism, but would not necessarily be illegal.
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1775 |
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Benjamin Franklin, first Postmaster General under Continental Congress |
1776 |
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U.S. Declares Independence |
1781 |
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U.S. wins battle of Yorktown |
1781 |
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A menagerie of birds, reptiles, snakes and quadrupeds advertised in New York City |
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While menageries have been popular throughout the world for centuries, one of the earliest
menageries in the United States was advertised in The Royal Gazette on
December 26, 1781. Listed as “An Exhibition of the most beautiful, curious, and extraordinary
productions of nature, ever before exposed in America,” this collection of animals was
available to audiences from 9am to 9pm. Menegaries such as the one advertised would be of
particular interest to urban dwellers who normally would not see undomesticated animals. But as
menageries became more sophisticated, and acquired more exotic specimens, owners would
eventually take their living collections to the road and the rail and bring the menegerie to
spectators throughout the country.
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1787 |
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United States constitution drafted |
1790-1800 |
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Nation’s first capital established in Philadelphia |
1792 |
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Kentucky 15th state admitted to the Union |