Frederick Charles Hengler (1820-1887) was a horseman and circus owner.
Hengler was the son of Henry, a famous circus performer. After following his father as a rope-dancer he became a horseman with a variety of circus troupes before starting his own circus, Hengler's Cirque, in 1848. Hengler soon abandoned traditional tents and "Big Tops" and instead acquired spacious premises in large cities. In 1863 Hengler's acquired the old Prince's Theatre in West Nile Street, and by 1875 Hengler's Circuses were established in Glasgow, Liverpool, Edinburgh and London.
Hengler's Circus moved to a new home in Wellington Street in 1885. The circus reached the heights of its popularity after Hengler's death, after moving to the Hippodrome in Sauchiehall Street in 1904.
Reference: Mitchell Library, 920.04BAI
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
circus owners, circuses, Hengler's Circus, Hengler's Cirque, Hippodrome, horsemen, Prince's Theatre, rocking horses