Dates

• Existence: 26 May 1808 - 29 November 1865

Biography

Isaac A. Van Amburgh was an American animal trainer, most famous for developing the first trained wild animal act and marking the cross over from menagerie shows to performing animals in circuses.

Isaac was born on 26 May 1808 in Peekskill, New York, of Native American descend, his grandfather adopted the name Van Amburgh. From a young age Isaac display an interest in animals and insects and was often called upon by neighbours and friends to investigate incidents and take care of wild animals, which meant submitting them to his will.

In 1827, Isaac started his professional career working with wild animals cleaning cages in the Zoological Institute of New York, which in spite of the grand name was in fact a small travelling menagerie. He soon displayed an attitude for working with animals and bending them to his will. This was noticed by the menagerie owners, who promoted the cleaning boy to animal trainer and developed a whole new show exhibiting him inside the cages with the animals dressed as a gladiator. During the shows, Isaac displayed a series of daredevil acts including putting his head inside of the lions and tigers’ mouths and performing all sorts of dominance acts over them, which very soon gained him fame and the nickname of The Lion King.

In spite of his success, his cruel treatment of animals also gained him criticism, although at that time this wasn’t enough to damage his popularity, justifying his practices on the supremacy of humans over animals and by 1831 he had acquired his own menagerie, which he travelled around America and Europe.

Isaac visited England between the late 1830s and the 1840s. He made his debut at Astley’s Amphitheatre in 1838 and performed for Queen Victoria in several occasion including six shows at Drury Lane between 1839 and 1844. Queen Victoria was so impressed by Van Amburgh that she commissioned Edwin Landseer to immortalise him on a painting, which was later displayed at the Royal Academy.

Royal approval gained Isaac a new fame status both in America and Europe and his name continued to be used by circuses until 1922, over five decades after his death.

Van Amburgh died of a heart attack on 29 November 1865 still at the height of his fame and having amassed a personal fortune.

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