Dates

• Existence: 15 August 1819 - 8 January 1865

Biography

Edward Henry Hengler was the eldest son of Henry Michael and Jane Pilsworth and following the family tradition became an equestrian and tight rope walker. Edward was born on 15 August 1819, at Stafford. From a young age Edward appeared with some of the major circuses in the UK including Cooke’s, Fanque’s, Sanger’s and Astley’s.

As his fame grew, Edward founded the Hengler’s Circus in 1844, the same year he appeared before Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at Windsor Castle. The following two years, Edward travelled the Hengler circus around England and Europe, until in 1847 his brother Charles took over.

Edward went back to work as a performed in other circuses. In 1852 he and his brother John Michael established the Liverpool Riding School.

Edward died after a long and painful illness on 8 January 1865 in Liverpool.