Eugen Sandow (1867–1925) was a pioneering German
bodybuilder. Born in
Königsberg,
Prussia, he joined a circus to avoid military service. Fellow strongman Ludwig Durlacher urged Sandow to travel to
London and take part in a
strongman competition, which he handily won. Sandow rose rapidly to fame and was soon touring Europe and the United States, being featured in a
short film series that depicted him flexing. After a bout of ill health, Sandow focused on opening public gyms, inventing or improving exercise equipment, and training would-be military recruits as well as
King George V. Sandow is now known as the "father of modern bodybuilding".
Photograph: D. Bernard & Co; restoration: Adam Cuerden