Ben Weider
Encyclopedia
Benjamin "Ben" Weider, (February 1, 1923 – October 17, 2008) was the co-founder of the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness (IFBB) along with brother Joe Weider
. He was a Canadian businessman from Montreal
, well-known in two areas: Bodybuilding
and Napoleonic
history.
In bodybuilding he founded and ran a physical fitness and sporting goods company bearing his name. He was IFBB
president until October 29, 2006, when he announced his retirement.
In Napoleonic circles Weider was known as a forceful advocate of the theory that Napoleon was assassinated by a member of his entourage during his exile in Saint Helena
. He co-authored several books, Assassination at St. Helena and Assassination at St. Helena Revisited, with Sten Forshufvud
and The Murder Of Napoleon, with David Hapgood about this. Weider also founded the International Napoleonic Society, of which he was the President, and wrote numerous articles for this organization.
In 1975 he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
and was promoted to Officer in 2006. In 2000, he was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec
. On October 12, 2000, he received the French Legion of Honor
, that country's highest honour, which was established by Bonaparte himself. Weider was also a 1984 nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize
, a member of the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame, and a Commander of the Venerable Order of St. John. He also had several honorary doctorate degrees. The Institute on Napoleon and the French Revolution at the Florida State University
History Department has recently created the Ben Weider Chair in Revolutionary Studies. In total, Ben accumulated over 66 awards and honours during his lifetime.
From 1998 to 2005, Ben Weider was Honorary
Lieutenant Colonel
of the 62nd (Shawinigan) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA. In 2005, he was promoted to Honorary Colonel
of that military unit. In October 2006, Ben Weider unexpectedly retired as president of the IFBB.
In 2008, he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 20th Anniversary Arnold Classic (only the eighth time in the competition's history that this award had been presented).
Ben owned one of the most extensive collections of Napoleon memorabilia, including one of the bicorne hats worn by "The Little Corporal" during the invasion of Russia in 1812, of which only 12 are known to still exist today. Three weeks before his death, Ben donated his entire set of priceless Napoleonic artifacts, over 60 pieces in all, to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
, making it one of the largest collections of its kind in the world. Prince Charles Napoleon, great-great-grandson of Napoleon's youngest brother Jerome, was on hand to inaugurate the museum's new permanent gallery on Oct. 23.
Joe Weider
Josef E. "Joe" Weider is co-founder of the International Federation of BodyBuilders along with brother Ben Weider and creator of the Mr. Olympia, the Ms. Olympia, and the now-defunct Masters Olympia bodybuilding contests...
. He was a Canadian businessman from Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, well-known in two areas: Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
and Napoleonic
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
history.
Biography
Benjamin Weider was born on February 1, 1923 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.In bodybuilding he founded and ran a physical fitness and sporting goods company bearing his name. He was IFBB
IFBB
IFBB can refer to:* Independent Family Brewers of Britain* International Federation of BodyBuilders...
president until October 29, 2006, when he announced his retirement.
In Napoleonic circles Weider was known as a forceful advocate of the theory that Napoleon was assassinated by a member of his entourage during his exile in Saint Helena
Saint Helena
Saint Helena , named after St Helena of Constantinople, is an island of volcanic origin in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha which also includes Ascension Island and the islands of Tristan da Cunha...
. He co-authored several books, Assassination at St. Helena and Assassination at St. Helena Revisited, with Sten Forshufvud
Sten Forshufvud
Sten Forshufvud was a Swedish dentist and expert on poisons who formulated and supported the controversial theory that Napoleon was assassinated by a member of his entourage while in exile. He wrote a book in Swedish about this in 1961...
and The Murder Of Napoleon, with David Hapgood about this. Weider also founded the International Napoleonic Society, of which he was the President, and wrote numerous articles for this organization.
In 1975 he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
and was promoted to Officer in 2006. In 2000, he was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
. On October 12, 2000, he received the French Legion of Honor
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, that country's highest honour, which was established by Bonaparte himself. Weider was also a 1984 nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
, a member of the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame, and a Commander of the Venerable Order of St. John. He also had several honorary doctorate degrees. The Institute on Napoleon and the French Revolution at the Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
History Department has recently created the Ben Weider Chair in Revolutionary Studies. In total, Ben accumulated over 66 awards and honours during his lifetime.
From 1998 to 2005, Ben Weider was Honorary
Title of honor
An honorary title or title of honor is a title bestowed upon individuals or organizations as an award in recognition of their merits.Sometimes the title bears the same or nearly the same name as a title of authority, but the person bestowed does not have to carry any duties, possibly except for...
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
of the 62nd (Shawinigan) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA. In 2005, he was promoted to Honorary Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of that military unit. In October 2006, Ben Weider unexpectedly retired as president of the IFBB.
In 2008, he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 20th Anniversary Arnold Classic (only the eighth time in the competition's history that this award had been presented).
Ben owned one of the most extensive collections of Napoleon memorabilia, including one of the bicorne hats worn by "The Little Corporal" during the invasion of Russia in 1812, of which only 12 are known to still exist today. Three weeks before his death, Ben donated his entire set of priceless Napoleonic artifacts, over 60 pieces in all, to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is a major museum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1860, making it Canada's oldest art institution, it moved to its current location in 1912 thanks to a large donation from businessman James Ross....
, making it one of the largest collections of its kind in the world. Prince Charles Napoleon, great-great-grandson of Napoleon's youngest brother Jerome, was on hand to inaugurate the museum's new permanent gallery on Oct. 23.
Published works
- Franceschi, General Michel and Ben Weider. 2007. Wars Against Napoleon: Debunking the Myth of the Napoleonic Wars. Savas Beatie.
- Weider. Ben (Author), Joe Weider (Author), Daniel Gastelu (Author). 2002. The Edge. Avery Publishing.
- Weider, Ben. 2000. Louis Cyr: Amazing Canadian. Ironmind Enterprises.
- Weider, Ben and Sten Forshufvud. 1995. Assassination at St. Helena Revisited. Wiley.
- Weider, Ben and Robert Kennedy. 1986. Superpump!: Hardcore Women's Bodybuilding. Sterling Pub Co Inc.
- Weider. Ben and David Hapgood. 1982. The Murder of Napoleon. New York: Congdon & Lattes : Distributed by St. Martin’s Press.
- Weider, Ben and Sten Forshufvud. 1978. Assassination At St.Helena. The Poisoning of Napoleon Bonaparte. Mitchell Press.
External links
- Ben Weider's last interview with Carol Off of CBC Radio 'As It Happens', discussing his multi-million dollar donation of Napoleon artifacts to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, broadcast September 25, 2008 (move time slider to 20 mins, 45 secs to start)
- IFBB Professional League for interest in professional bodybuilding, health and fitness
- International Napoleonic Society website
- Mexico-France Napoleonic Institute official website
- Ben Weider Memorial of the Fellow-Members of Honor of the International Napoleonic Society (in French)
- Brothers of Iron: How the Weider Brothers Created the Fitness Movement and Built a Business Empire by Joe Weider and Ben Weider, with Mike Steere, published by Sports Publishing L.L.C., 2006
- Pillar of Achievement mention in the International Jewish Sports Hall of FameInternational Jewish Sports Hall of FameThe International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was opened July 7, 1981, in Netanya, Israel. It honors Jewish athletes and their accomplishments from anywhere around the world....
. - Ben Weider: Canadian Casts Doubt on French History