Sanger, George, 1825 - 1911
Biography
George was born in Newbury, a historic market town in Berkshire in 1825 and grew up on the fairground working in the family’s peep show. In 1848 George and his brother John bought some canaries and mice and trained them for exhibition. This humble beginning into animal performance within the fairground scene and their business ambition, built up to the formation of the Sanger's Allied Circus in 1854 at the King’s Lynn Charter Fair, which they operated with a few family members and friends. By 1858 Sanger’s circus boasted of presenting the largest stud of horses ever seen in the European continent and visited over two hundred towns in a nine-month season, giving two shows a day. By the 1860s the Sanger emporium owned ten permanent circuses between Plymouth and Aberdeen.
One of the brothers’ popular shows was the pantomime ‘Lady Godiva’ featuring a well-known equestrienne, Ellen Chapman (1831-1899).
George and Ellen married in 1850 in Sheffield and Ellen immediately became a key act on the family shows. She appeared in pantomimes, performing the serpentine dance in the lions' den and impersonating 'Brittannia' in the acclaimed Sanger's circus processions.
George and Ellen had three children; a son who died as a baby, Laurina (1853-1882) and Sarah Harriet (1854-1929).
In 1856, when George and John added wild animals to their circus, Ellen returned to her former profession as a lion tamer. By 1858 they had added six lions and ten elephants to the show which proved to be a big winner with the public.
The Sanger brother’s expansion into circus greatness continued with the acquisition of two of the most famous and reputable circus venues in London; the Royal Agricultural Hall at Islington in 1870 and Astley’s New Royal Amphitheatre in 1871, which they bought from William Batty’s widow.
By this point Sanger's Circus travelling road train was said to be two miles long and reputedly had around ten wagons to carry the tent and seating, a lamp wagon, eight or ten living carriages, a foal wagon, ten wild animal wagons, a harness wagon, a portable blacksmith's forge, property wagons, wardrobe and dressing wagons, a band carriage and at least six great tableau parade cars.
From 1874 Sanger also presented tenting shows on the Continent for fifteen seasons, travelling up to 160 horses, eleven elephants, a dozen camels and about 330 staff.
George and John eventually decided to go their separate ways and split their various business ventures amicably.
During his extensive and impressive career as a circus proprietor George Sanger presented two Royal performances before Queen Victoria, the first at Sandringham on 8 January 1885 and the second at Balmoral Castle on 17 June 1898.
George Sanger was a respected member of the showland community and although he spent most of his later life in the circus, he maintained a strong link to his fairground roots and was elected the first President of the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain in 1890, a post he held until 1909.
George Sanger was murdered on 28 November 1911, at Park Farm by one of his employees for unknown reasons. His circus and effects were auctioned off by showman Tom Norman aka ‘The Silver King’.
Found in 73 Collections and/or Records:
Grand Hall by the Sea, Italian & Zoological Gardens Programme, c1875 - 1919
Margate, black type on pale brown paper and advertisement for The Clifton Baths on reverse. Acts listed; Miss Frances Talbot, singing act, Mr Edgar Granville, singing act, Martello, aerial act.
Grand Hall by the Sea, Italian & Zoological Gardens Programme, c1875 - 1919
Margate, black type on pale brown paper and advertisement for The Clifton Baths on reverse. Acts listed; Miss Frances Talbot, singing act, Mr Edgar Granville, singing act, Martello, aerial act, The Michigan Coons.
Greetings Cards and Invitations, c1800 - 1999
Christmas greeting card with a black and white photograph of a Jack Russell seating on his back legs on a high table next to a man in a long coat and top hat, signed by Donat Bedini with Christmas greeting printed, black and white postcard showing Merchant Taylor's School and luncheon invitation addressed to George Sanger at the Marine Palace.
Hall by the Sea, Grand Belgian Ball Programme, 8 September 1914
Margate, In aid of the Belgian Relief Fund, all the proceeds given by Mr & Mrs Arthur Reeve to the above Fund. Fan shaped programme on card showing a light blue and black photograph of a large hall with chandeliers and ornate walls and ceilings on front on reverse black type on off white background and green floral border.
Hall by the Sea, Grand Belgian Ball Programme, 8 September 1914
Margate, In aid of the Belgian Relief Fund, all the proceeds given by Mr & Mrs Arthur Reeve to the above Fund. Fan shaped programme on card showing a light blue and black photograph of a large hall with chandeliers and ornate walls and ceilings on front on reverse black type on off white background and green floral border.
Hall by the Sea Handbills, c1875 - 1919
Hall by the Sea handbills.
Hall by the Sea Italian and Zoological Gardens Handbill, 8 September 1914
Margate. Annual Complimentary Benefit, Special Grand Night in Aid of The Belgian Relief Fund. A grand entertainment of horsemanship and aerial and gymnastic talent in the circus and The Belgian Ball in the Grand Hall. Black type on white background, Printed by Thanet Times Printers, Margate.
Hall by the Sea Italian and Zoological Gardens Handbill, 8 September 1914
Margate. Annual Complimentary Benefit, Special Grand Night in Aid of The Belgian Relief Fund. A grand entertainment of horsemanship and aerial and gymnastic talent in the circus and The Belgian Ball in the Grand Hall. Black type on white background, Printed by Thanet Times Printers, Margate.
Hall by the Sea Italian and Zoological Gardens Handbill, c1875 - 1919
Margate. Circus, dancing and skating. Black type on pink paper, printed on front and reverse. Printed by the Thanet Times Printers, Margate.
Hall by the Sea Italian and Zoological Gardens Handbill, c1875 - 1919
Margate. Circus, dancing and skating. Black type on pink paper, printed on front and reverse. Printed by the Thanet Times Printers, Margate.
Hall by the Sea Newspaper Cuttings, 1900 - 1945
Various newspaper cutting about event at the Hall by the Sea.
Handbills, c1786 - 1968
Handbills for travelling shows, fairs, exhibitions and performances in London.
Interview with June Dick, 6 August 2018
Interview with June Dick, descendant of Lord George Sanger about the Sanger family history. Interview conducted by Professor Vanessa Toulmin and NFCA staff. Rushes. Filmed by NFCA staff. 8 x MP4 files , 42 mins.
John Bramwell Taylor Collection
John F. C. Heather Collection
Black and white photographs related to Joseph Charles Heather, the Sanger Circus and the Bostock Jungle.
Letter of Marriage Arrangements, 23 November 1873
Letter signed by John Reeve and George Sanger esq. regarding marriage arrangements between Harriet and Arthur. Ink on paper. Manuscript, 2p.p.
Letter to Barnum and Sanger Circus, 18 March 1888
Letter to Sanger and Barnum Circus from Pauline Vermersch. Ink on ruled paper. Manuscript, 2p.p.
Life of Lord Geo. Sanger, The World's Greatest Showman Article, c1880 - 1899
Interview and life story of George Sanger contained in a booklet with his portrait on the front page printed in several different colours, 6p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Hall by the Sea Handbill, c1913
Margate. Under the personal direction of Mr & Mrs Arthur Reeve. Great Irish Night, skating and dancing carnival. Black type on pale brown paper. Printed by The Electric Press, Margate.
Lord George Sanger's Hall by the Sea Handbill, c1913
Margate. Under the personal direction of Mr & Mrs Arthur Reeve. Great Irish Night, skating and dancing carnival. Black type on pale brown paper. Printed by The Electric Press, Margate.