Jean-Baptiste Auriol

Jean-Baptiste Auriol (August 11, 1806 – August 29, 1881) was a French clown, juggler, tightrope walker, and acrobat.

Early life Jean-Baptiste Auriol was born on August 11, 1806, in Toulouse, France.

His father, Louis Auriol, performed as a tightrope walker and served as manager of the Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse.

Career At just six years old, Jean-Baptiste Auriol began his career in the ring, rapidly gaining recognition for his talented and creative routines.

Sketch of Jean-Baptiste Auriol in costume dancing on bottles. Auriol made his debut at the Cirque Olympique on March 5, 1835. From the early 1840s through 1852, he was employed by Louis Dejean at the Cirque des Champs-Élysées.

He perfected balancing acts throughout the 1830s. Balancing atop bottles, Auriol showcased his dancing and shooting trick abilities.

He remained actively engaged in his clowning profession until age fifty. He was buried in Passy Cemetery in Paris, France.

Legacy Known as the "First French Clown," Jean-Baptiste Auriol had reigned as France's favorite clown for over thirty years.

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