Ben Weider

Benjamin Weider, (1 February 1923 – 17 October 2008) was a Canadian soldier, author, historian (Napoleonic history), fitness proponent, benefactor of the arts, and entrepreneur. He co-founded the International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB) alongside his brother Joe Weider. The Weiders also founded many successful businesses including gyms, nutritional supplements and magazines such as Muscle & Fitness. Ben left school at 13 to work in restaurants and factories.

He co-founded the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness (IFBB) along with brother Joe Weider, and was its president until he announced his retirement on 29 October 2006. He also co-founded (1936) and ran a physical fitness and sporting goods business from Montreal with his brother, which bears their family name.

Ben Weider opened a number of gyms around the world, including in Lebanon.

Historical research Weider was known as an advocate of the theory that Napoleon was assassinated with arsenic poisoning by a member of his entourage during his exile in Saint Helena. Weider had even obtained authenticated Napoleon hair samples and arranged for forensic tests that showed that Napoleon had been poisoned with arsenic. He co-authored several Napoleonic history books including, Assassination at St. Helena, Assassination at St. Helena Revisited and The Murder of Napoleon. The Murder of Napoleon became one of the best-selling history books of all time, now with editions in 45 languages.

Weider owned an extensive collection of Napoleon memorabilia. He donated this collection to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, making it one of the largest collections of its kind in the world.

In 2006, the Weider History Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Weider Health and Fitness Inc, acquired Civil War Times in an acquisition of eleven history-related magazines from another magazine chain, along with America's Civil War, Armchair General, Civil War Times, Vietnam, etc. These acquisitions caused controversies over a change in editorial direction, including the resignation of the Civil War Timess editor (Chris Lewis), and general criticisms of anti-Palestine bias.

Religion Weider was a Jewish Anglophone. He financially assisted the rebuilding of Montreal's Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral. Jean-Claude Turcotte, the Roman Catholic Cardinal, said of him that Ben Weider was "One of the greatest Montrealers I ever knew". a Knight of the National Order of Quebec in 2000, a Knight (for his research work into Napoleon's death

From 1998 to 2005, 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 2003, he received the first Lifetime Achievement Award from Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro in 2003.

In 2014, he was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame along with Joe and Betty Weider.

Death Weider died on October 17, 2008, at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal.

Published works Books Weider B., and Forshufvud S., Assassination At St. Helena: The Poisoning of Napoleon Bonaparte (1978). Weider B., and Hapgood D. The Murder of Napoleon (1982). Weider, B., and Kennedy, R. Superpump!: Hardcore Women's Bodybuilding (1986). Weider, B. and Forshufvud, S. Assassination at St. Helena Revisited (1995). Weider, B. The Murder of Napoleon (1998). Weider, B. Louis Cyr: Amazing Canadian (2000). Weider, B., Weider, J., and Gastelu, D., The Edge (2002). Weider, B. Napoleon: The Man that Shaped Europe (2003). Weider B., Weider J., Schwarzenegger A., Brothers of Iron: Building the Weider Empire (2006)

Journal articles Weider B., and Fournier J.H., Activation analyses of authenticated hairs of Napoleon Bonaparte confirm arsenic poisoning (1999). Weider B., and Fournier J., The Death of Napoleon (1999).