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Foster Powell (1734–15 April 1793) was the first notable exponent of long-distance walking known as pedestrianismCharles G. Harper (1922) ''The Great North Road: London to York 2nd edn'' Cecil Palmer, London and has been called "the first English athlete of whom we have any record".Arthur Mee (1941) ''The King's England: Yorkshire West Riding'' (Hodder & Stoughton, London) pp190–1 Powell started the focus on walking/running for six days and is considered the “Father of the Six-Day Race.” ''The Six-Day Race – Part 1: The Birth (1773-1870)''
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Volume 46: Powell, Foster He became a national celebrity, but made very little money from walking, which he treated as a hobby, and died in relative poverty at the age of 59 on 15 April 1793. He was buried at St Faith's Church in
The Six-Day Race – Part 1: The Birth (1773-1870)Foster Powell - The Celebrated Pedestrian
{{DEFAULTSORT:Powell, Foster 1734 births 1793 deaths People from Horsforth Walkers of the United Kingdom British male racewalkers Sportspeople from Yorkshire
Foster Powell (1734–15 April 1793) was the first notable exponent of long-distance walking known as pedestrianismCharles G. Harper (1922) ''The Great North Road: London to York 2nd edn'' Cecil Palmer, London and has been called "the first English athlete of whom we have any record".Arthur Mee (1941) ''The King's England: Yorkshire West Riding'' (Hodder & Stoughton, London) pp190–1 Powell started the focus on walking/running for six days and is considered the “Father of the Six-Day Race.” ''The Six-Day Race – Part 1: The Birth (1773-1870)''/ref>
Life
Powell was baptized in Horsforth in 1734, and moved to London in 1762 where he worked as a lawyer's clerk. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, accessed 3 July 2016 In 1764 he began his pedestrian career by wagering that he could walk 50 miles in 7 hours, which he accomplished on the Bath Road.''Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900''Volume 46: Powell, Foster He became a national celebrity, but made very little money from walking, which he treated as a hobby, and died in relative poverty at the age of 59 on 15 April 1793. He was buried at St Faith's Church in
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in London and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London. It is on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London and is a Grad ...
Churchyard, after a walking funeral procession.
Feats
In 1773 he walked 400 miles from London to York and back, and in 1788 walked 100 miles in 21 hours 35 minutes. He also ran 2 miles in 10 minutes.References
External links
The Six-Day Race – Part 1: The Birth (1773-1870)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Powell, Foster 1734 births 1793 deaths People from Horsforth Walkers of the United Kingdom British male racewalkers Sportspeople from Yorkshire