Francisco Amoros

Francisco Amorós y Ondeano, otherwise known as the Marquis of Sotelo (19 February 1770 – 1848), contributed to gymnastics in France and to the resurgence of sport in the modern era.

Ondeano was born in Valencia, Spain, the son of a brigadier of the Spanish army. At the age of nine he studied at a Saint-Isodore school within Madrid. At sixteen years of age he entered the military, in the capacity of an infantry-man in the army of Cordone.

Ondeano took French nationality during 1816. He opened a gymnasium in Paris during 1817, and another in 1820, for the use of both the military and the general population.

Amongst other works, he published texts entitled:

New Complete Manual of Physical Education for Gymnastics and Morals. Civil (or Civilian) French Gymnasium (of which there was an edition in print during the year 1819)