circus – Ingliando

On this day the first modern circus was born. Although trick riders, acrobats, clowns and other elements of the modern circus have always existed, it was only in 1768 that the modern circus as we know it today actually took shape. This was thanks to an Englishman, Philip Astley, a former cavalry sergeant major, who discovered that when he galloped his horse in a tight circle, centrifugal force allowed him to carry out apparently impossible stunts while standing on the horse’s back. Inspired by his discovery, he decided to open an arena and perform his tricks in front of an audience. The response was so favourable that he went on to hire other riders, clowns and musicians and in 1770 inaugurated Astley’s Amphitheatre.

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