W. F. Wallett facts for kids
William Frederick "W.F." Wallett (born November 1806 in Hull, England – died 13 March 1892 in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, England) was a very popular circus clown during the Victorian era in England. He also became somewhat famous in the United States. After performing for Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle in 1844, Wallett started calling himself "the Queen's Jester." He even used this title for his autobiography published in 1870.
For many years, Wallett performed in the circus owned by his good friend Pablo Fanque. Pablo Fanque's name is well-known today because he is mentioned in The Beatles song, Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! Wallett also helped manage Fanque's circus, making him an important part of the show both in and out of the ring.
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The Queen's Jester
William Wallett was a master of observation and humor. He often used his sharp wit to entertain audiences. His performances were known for their cleverness and ability to make people laugh. After his special performance for Queen Victoria, he proudly adopted the title "the Queen's Jester." This title helped him become even more famous across England.
Life in the Circus
Wallett traveled a lot, but he often found himself working with Pablo Fanque. Many of Wallett's most interesting stories come from his time performing in Fanque's circus. He shared many of these tales in his autobiography, giving us a peek into the life of a Victorian clown.
Clever Routines
Wallett was known for creating unique and smart acts. He once designed a routine for a show in Oxford that involved a tricky legal topic: land rights.
He explained how he made a joke about people's right to vote based on owning land. He compared the number of voters to the amount of land owned by the city. He joked that there was more than enough land for everyone to qualify as a voter. What started as a joke turned out to be surprisingly accurate. Years later, a judge made a similar decision in a real court case! This shows how clever Wallett was, even when just trying to be funny.
A Funny Fishing Trip
Wallett also shared a funny story about fishing with Pablo Fanque on The Isis. This is the part of The Thames River that flows through Oxford.
Wallett said that Pablo was an amazing fisherman. He would often catch more fish than five or six other people combined! This made one person curious. Pablo was a Black man, and this person thought Pablo's skin color might be helping him catch so many fish. So, one morning, Wallett and Pablo went to the river earlier than usual. They were surprised to find the other fisherman with his face painted black, just like the performers in a minstrel show! He was trying to copy Pablo's "secret" to catching fish.
A Sad Moment in Wakefield
During his time with Pablo Fanque's circus in Wakefield, Wallett experienced a very sad event. A family was enjoying the show, including a young couple, their baby, and the baby's grandmother.
Wallett noticed the grandmother laughing heartily during his act. Suddenly, her laughter stopped, and her head fell back. Wallett immediately knew something serious had happened. He quickly went into the audience, gently carried the old lady out, and sat down with her. She sighed softly, and then passed away peacefully. Wallett had to return to the ring and explain what had happened to the audience. It was a very difficult moment for him to speak about such a sad event while still being a clown.
The Leeds Circus Accident
Another challenging event happened in Leeds in March 1848 during a performance for Wallett's own benefit. The circus was packed with people.
During the show, the gallery where many people were sitting suddenly collapsed with a loud crash. Hundreds of people fell into a heap of broken wood. Luckily, no one in the audience died. However, Wallett's wife and Pablo Fanque's wife were in the pay office below. Wallett's wife was injured but not seriously hurt. Sadly, Mrs. Pablo Fanque was struck by a falling beam and died instantly. It was a very tragic day for the circus and for Wallett and Fanque.
