Dates

• Existence: c1841 - 1869

Biography

Pablo Fanque Circus was founded by William Darby aka Pablo Fanque (1810-1871).

Pablo entered the circus world as an apprentice to William Batty as a ten year old child. He trained as an acrobat and tight ropewalker and later as an equestrian showing great promise from the very beginning.

After achieving success as a performer and working at some of the most prestigious circuses of the time, Pablo started his own circus in 1841 at just twenty one years of age.

Pablo Fanque Circas was modest outfit at first, counting with just two horses but over the following thirty became one of the most celebrated circuses of the time, even performing for Queen Victoria at Astley’s Amphitheatre in 1847. Pablo Fanque Circus travelled mainly around Yorkshire and Lancashire but it also reached as far as Ireland, Scotland and many other English towns and cities.

Pablo had several children who followed his steps into circus including William Darby Banham (1828-1869) who performed as Pablo Fanque Junior or Master Burkham, Lionel (b. 1836) who was known as Master Pablo Fanque, George (1854–1881) and Edward ‘Ted’ Charles (1855-1937)who was known as Ted Pablo.

Pablo Fanque Circus fortunes started to decline in the 1860s and although the circus had enjoyed great success for many years by the time of Pablo Franque's death in 1871, the family had lost the business and were living in poverty.