Pablo Fanque
(1796-1871)

1st black British circus proprietor

Died aged 75

Pablo Fanque (born William Darby; 30 March 1810 – 4 May 1871) was a British equestrian performer and circus proprietor, becoming the first recorded Black circus owner in Britain. His circus was popular in Victorian Britain for 30 years, a period that is regarded as the golden age of the circus. Since the 1960's, Pablo Fanque has been best known for being mentioned in The Beatles song "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" on their album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967).

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Commemorated on 1 plaque

Pablo Fanque 1810-1871 Pablo Fanque, real name William Darby, the first black British circus proprietor, was born in Norwich and lived near to this site. He is immortalised in the Beatles song Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite, with the line: 'The Hendersons will all be there, late of Pablo Fanque's fair, what a scene!'

John Lewis department store, All Saints Green, Norwich, United Kingdom where they lived