Project Ideas

Background Research

The Great Circus Showman Lord George Sanger:

• Grew up working in his fathers (James Sanger) peep and human curiosity shows.

• Started off his first business as an animal tamer (animals including canaries, white mice and hares). He taught them to fire miniature cannons and walk tightropes.

• Accused of witchcraft from rural villagers.

• In 1845 he started a conjuring exhibition with his brothers, Will and John Sanger. The exhibition included three to four human performers and a horse and pony.

• While touring at the Stepney Fair, George met an old acquaintance from childhood called Ellen Chapan. She was a lion tamer, known professionally as Madame Pauline de Vere. They married on 1 December 1850

• After their success at Stepney Fair, the brothers started a circus. Their first purchase for the circus was a Welsh pony, for £7 and their assistants were two nieces, a nephew and four apprentices.

• From 1871, on an annual basis, the brothers held an equestrian pantomime every winter at the Astley Amphitheatre and toured England during the summer with large circuses.

• Eventually, the brothers went their separate ways hosting their own shows.

• Johns great granddaughter, Victoria Sanger Freeman, became a legendary figure in the circus world and was known as the “Queen of Elephants”.

• In 1905, Sanger sold off his zoo and circus assets at auction.

• On 28 November 1911 George Sanger was murdered with a hatchet at his home by employee Herbert Charles Cooper, for unknown reasons