Dates

• Existence: 1784 - 1861

Biography

Henry Michael Hengler was born in Lambeth in 1784 to Michael and Sarah Hengler. Although born in London, Henry was brought up in the South of France, where he became known as Monsier Hengler. Henry was apprentice to the French acrobat and wire walker Jean Richer from a young age and was billed as a tight rope prodigy, appearing before Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, in 1789, aged five.

Henry returned to England in about 1802 when his father, Michael died. As well as working with a variety of circuses in London and the provinces, Henry became a regular at Astley's Circus between 1803 and 1808. Until his retirement in 1854, Henry appeared as Mons Hengler with some of the most prestigious circuses of his time including Ducrow’s, Cooke's, Batty's and Powell's. In 1841 Henry swapped the tight rope for an equestrian act.

Henry married Jane Pilsworth on 9 January 1808 in Dublin and they had eleven children, including Georgiana Margaretta (1808-1837), Sarah Jane (1812), Eliza Ann (1816-1885), Henrietta Frances (1818), Edward Henry (1819), Frederick Charles (1821-1887), Charles Alfred (1822), Alfred Hugh (1823-1842), Agnes Selina (1825-1879), Rosina Emily (1828-c1894) and John Michael (1831-1919). His son Frederick Charles is regarded as the founder of Hengler's Circus.

Henry died on 4 October 1861, aged 77 years in Liverpool.