William Leonard Hunt
Encyclopedia
William Leonard Hunt also known by the stage name
The Great Farini, was a well known nineteenth and early twentieth century Canadian funambulist
, entertainment promoter and inventor, as well as the first known white man to cross the Kalahari Desert
on foot and survive.
. His parents were strict disciplinarians, but their punishments had little effect on him; as he later recalled, he “took pleasure in disobeying their commands.” For example, he loved swimming and had an uncommon ability for it too. Of his frequent excursions, many of them would be to go swimming. His mother soon forbade him to and sewed up the collars and sleeves of his clothes so that he could not strip for swimming, but that did not stop him; he would just swim with his clothes on and run in the sun until he was dry or rip open his clothes and get some older girls to sew them up for him again. In 1843, Hunt's family moved to Hope Township in Canada
, now part of Port Hope, Ontario
, and then to Bowmanville, Ontario
. While in Bowmanville, Hunt sneaked into a circus
that came to town, and became infatuated with the idea of show business
. He began developing his muscles and acrobatic talent in secret, and became surprisingly proficient. Soon, he had an idea. He decided to host his own circus, right in town! It was quite successful, complete with music and various circus entertainment, and he found himself with $6 in his hat, but it ended in a catastrophe. Just about it was going to end, a bunch of angry parents came storming in, including Willie's father. He claimed that young William had disgraced the whole family and started whipping him. But this just increased Willie's determination. On October 1, 1859, he undertook his first professional high wire performance above the Ganaraska River
in Port Hope, calling himself Signor Farini. It was a resounding success, and was followed six days later by a show of strength in the town hall.
during 1860, commencing on August 15. His feats included crossing a high wire with a man on his back or with a sack over his entire body, turning somersault
s while on the rope, hanging from it by his feet, and other seemingly impossible manoeuvres. On one occasion, he performed for the Prince of Wales
.
in 1866. He quickly became a legend, and was one of the most celebrated acrobats in Europe. For some time he performed with a young child known as El Niño. He ended his acrobatic career in 1869, fearing that if he continued he would eventually be seriously injured.
However, he remained in show business, becoming a trainer and manager of acrobats, as well as an inventor. Circus historians credit him with the invention of an apparatus that eventually became known as the now famous "human cannonball
". He arranged many of the entertainments at the Royal Aquarium
in London. For the next few years he came up with many such acts, even partnering with the legendary P.T. Barnum for some time, before he left for Africa
in 1885.
on foot during his stay in Africa, allegedly becoming the first white man to survive the crossing. He also claimed to have found the famous Lost City of the Kalahari, but his claims have never been verified.
on January 17, 1929 in Port Hope, Ontario.
, The Great Farini: The High-Wire Life of William Hunt (1995), ISBN 0-14-024360-7.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
The Great Farini, was a well known nineteenth and early twentieth century Canadian funambulist
Tightrope walking
Tightrope walking is the art of walking along a thin wire or rope, usually at a great height. One or more artists performs in front of an audience or as a publicity stunt...
, entertainment promoter and inventor, as well as the first known white man to cross the Kalahari Desert
Kalahari Desert
The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savannah in Southern Africa extending , covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa, as semi-desert, with huge tracts of excellent grazing after good rains. The Kalahari supports more animals and plants than a true desert...
on foot and survive.
Early life
Hunt, the second child of Thomas and Hannah Hunt, was born in Lockport, New YorkLockport (city), New York
Lockport is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 21,165 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a set of Erie canal locks within the city. Lockport is the county seat of Niagara County and is surrounded by the town of Lockport...
. His parents were strict disciplinarians, but their punishments had little effect on him; as he later recalled, he “took pleasure in disobeying their commands.” For example, he loved swimming and had an uncommon ability for it too. Of his frequent excursions, many of them would be to go swimming. His mother soon forbade him to and sewed up the collars and sleeves of his clothes so that he could not strip for swimming, but that did not stop him; he would just swim with his clothes on and run in the sun until he was dry or rip open his clothes and get some older girls to sew them up for him again. In 1843, Hunt's family moved to Hope Township in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, now part of Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto and about west of Kingston. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County...
, and then to Bowmanville, Ontario
Bowmanville, Ontario
Bowmanville is the largest community in the Municipality of Clarington in Durham Region, Ontario, Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario about 75 km east of Toronto and 15 km east of Oshawa along Highway 2...
. While in Bowmanville, Hunt sneaked into a circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
that came to town, and became infatuated with the idea of show business
Show business
Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz, is a vernacular term for all aspects of entertainment. The word applies to all aspects of the entertainment industry from the business side to the creative element ....
. He began developing his muscles and acrobatic talent in secret, and became surprisingly proficient. Soon, he had an idea. He decided to host his own circus, right in town! It was quite successful, complete with music and various circus entertainment, and he found himself with $6 in his hat, but it ended in a catastrophe. Just about it was going to end, a bunch of angry parents came storming in, including Willie's father. He claimed that young William had disgraced the whole family and started whipping him. But this just increased Willie's determination. On October 1, 1859, he undertook his first professional high wire performance above the Ganaraska River
Ganaraska River
The Ganaraska River is a river that bisects the Town of Port Hope, Ontario, Canada. From its headwaters in the Oak Ridges Moraine, it flows into the north shore of Lake Ontario. It is located in the western end of Northumberland County, Ontario....
in Port Hope, calling himself Signor Farini. It was a resounding success, and was followed six days later by a show of strength in the town hall.
Niagara Falls
The Great Farini made his most famous tightrope performances at Niagara FallsNiagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
during 1860, commencing on August 15. His feats included crossing a high wire with a man on his back or with a sack over his entire body, turning somersault
Somersault
A somersault is an acrobatic exercise in which a person does a full 360° flip, moving the feet over the head. A somersault can be performed either forwards, backwards, or sideways and can be executed in the air or on the ground...
s while on the rope, hanging from it by his feet, and other seemingly impossible manoeuvres. On one occasion, he performed for the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
.
European career
Farini then wandered the United States for some time before going to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1866. He quickly became a legend, and was one of the most celebrated acrobats in Europe. For some time he performed with a young child known as El Niño. He ended his acrobatic career in 1869, fearing that if he continued he would eventually be seriously injured.
However, he remained in show business, becoming a trainer and manager of acrobats, as well as an inventor. Circus historians credit him with the invention of an apparatus that eventually became known as the now famous "human cannonball
Human cannonball
The human cannonball is a performance in which a person is ejected from a specially designed cannon. The impetus is provided not by gunpowder, but by either a spring or jet of compressed air...
". He arranged many of the entertainments at the Royal Aquarium
Royal Aquarium
The Royal Aquarium and Winter Garden was a Westminster, London place of amusement opened in 1876. The building was demolished in 1903. It was located immediately to the west of Westminster Abbey on Tothill Street. The building was designed by Alfred Bedborough in a highly ornamental style faced...
in London. For the next few years he came up with many such acts, even partnering with the legendary P.T. Barnum for some time, before he left for Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
in 1885.
Africa
Farini purportedly overcame many obstacles when he traversed the Kalahari DesertKalahari Desert
The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savannah in Southern Africa extending , covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa, as semi-desert, with huge tracts of excellent grazing after good rains. The Kalahari supports more animals and plants than a true desert...
on foot during his stay in Africa, allegedly becoming the first white man to survive the crossing. He also claimed to have found the famous Lost City of the Kalahari, but his claims have never been verified.
Last days
For the rest of his life, Farini continued to devise inventions. He died of influenzaInfluenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
on January 17, 1929 in Port Hope, Ontario.
Sources
Shane PeacockShane Peacock
Shane Peacock , author of The Boy Sherlock Holmes series and many other books, plays, documentaries and articles for young readers and adults.-Biography:...
, The Great Farini: The High-Wire Life of William Hunt (1995), ISBN 0-14-024360-7.