Person    | Male  Born 2/4/1867  Died 14/10/1925

Eugen Sandow

Categories: Sport / Games, Theatre

Countries: Russia, USA

Body-builder and entertainer. Born Friedrich Wilhelm Müller in Königsberg, Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia). He left Prussia to avoid military service and travelled through Europe perfecting his physique. His stage surname came from his mother's maiden name. We don't know where 'Eugen' came from but it seems likely that it was connected to Sandow's promotion of the eugenics movement, certainly not a case of 'nominative determinism' (see Isambard Brunel for examples). In the USA he performed for the impresario Florenz Ziegfeld. In about 1895 he moved to Britain, and in 1911 was honoured by George V, who followed his teachings, appointing him ‘professor of scientific physical culture to the king’. Died at his home in Holland Park. This film from 1894 shows him flexing his muscles.

2019: The Natural History Museum tells of the statues made from a 1901 cast of Sandow's body: one briefly displayed in 1901 and the other made on commission from Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1990s.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Eugen Sandow

Commemorated ati

Eugen Sandow

Eugen Sandow, 1867 - 1925, body builder and promoter of physical culture, liv...

Read More

Other Subjects

Victoria Park

Victoria Park

London's first public park. Known locally as Vicky Park or the People's Park, it was laid out by Sir James Pennethorne. It became a welcome relief from the cramped living conditions of the East End...

Place, Gardens / Agriculture, Sport / Games

2 memorials
William Kinnear

William Kinnear

Oarsman. Born William Nicoll Duthie Kinnear at Balmanno in the Parish of Marykirk, Kincardine, Scotland. He worked as a draper's assistant before moving to Debenhams in London. His colleagues intro...

Person, Sport / Games, Scotland, Sweden

1 memorial
Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand

Footballer. Played 81 times for the England national team 1997 - 2011, Born at King's College Hospital in Camberwell and grew up in Peckham, living on the Friary Estate.

Person, Sport / Games

1 memorial
St Jude's Institute Football Club

St Jude's Institute Football Club

Boys' football club, based at the St Jude's Institute, a mission hall founded by the Reverend Stanley Bolt, vicar of the local church. The club merged with the Christ Church Rangers, to form the Qu...

Group, Sport / Games

1 memorial
Wembley Stadium

Wembley Stadium

The first Wembley Stadium, originally known as the Empire Stadium, was opened 28 March 1923 by King George V, in time for the British Empire Exhibition of 1924. The architects were Sir John Simpson...

Building, Sport / Games

3 memorials

Previously viewed

George Godwin

George Godwin

Architect, journalist and social reformer. Editor of "The Builder". Honorary Secretary to the Executive Committee for the Great Exhibition Memorial. Born in Brompton Terrace, Kensington. Died at h...

Person, Architecture, Journalism / Publishing, Social Welfare

2 memorials
Eisenhower family

Eisenhower family

Family of Dwight D Eisenhower

Group, Friend / family, USA

1 memorial
Edward Irving

Edward Irving

Preacher and theologian. Born Dumfriesshire. Founded the Catholic Apostolic church, commonly called the "Irvingites". Arrived in London to take charge of the Gaelic Chapel in Hatton Place. He was s...

Person, Religion, Scotland

1 memorial
Silver Wedding of Queen & Prince Philip

Silver Wedding of Queen & Prince Philip

At the time of their wedding Philip's title was Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh, not Prince, and the Queen was still Princess Elizabeth. If their family names had not been Anglicised earlier ...

Event, Royalty

2 memorials
Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria

Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria

The fiftieth anniversary of the accession of Queen Victoria was celebrated on Monday 20 June 1887. In George Gissing's 1894 novel 'In the Year of Jubilee' characters discuss whether to participate...

Event, Royalty

13 memorials