Foster Powell (1734–15 April 1793) was the first notable exponent of long-distance walking known as pedestrianism[1] and has been called “the first English athlete of whom we have any record”.[2] Powell started the focus on walking/running for six days and is considered the “Father of the Six-Day Race”.[3]
Life
Powell was baptized in Horsforth in 1734, and moved to London in 1762 where he worked as a lawyer’s clerk.[1][4] 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.[5] 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.[2][4] He was buried at St Faith’s Church in St Paul’s Cathedral Churchyard, after a walking funeral procession.[4][5]
Feats
Powell had experience walking long distances as early as circa 1771, when he walked about 400 miles (640 km) from London to York and back to get a lease signed in less than six days.[6]
In 1773, Powell accepted a wager to walk the same route within six days again. He left Hicks Hall at 12:19 PM on 29 November 1773 and reached York at 2:30 AM on 31 November. He arrived back at Hicks Hall at 6:30 PM on 4 December 1773. On his return, about 3,000 people accompanied him from Highgate into London, and he won a bet of approximately £100 (equivalent to £13,212 in 2025).[6]
He committed to repeat the same feat thirteen years later in 1785.[7]
In 1788, Powell walked 100 miles in 21 hours 35 minutes. He also ran 2 miles in 10 minutes.[4]
In November 1789, Powell attempted to run one mile in less than 5 minutes and 20 seconds for a £20 wager.[8]
In 1790 at over 55 years old, Powell walked 394 miles in 136 hours and 13 minutes, just one hour and 47 minutes under the time allotted to him to win a bet.[9]
In September 1790, Powell was crowned at Astley’s Amphitheatre to recognize his achievements. The crowning was done to resemble Roman victory celebrations.[10]
References
- ^ a b Charles G. Harper (1922) The Great North Road: London to York 2nd edn Cecil Palmer, London
- ^ a b Arthur Mee (1941) The King’s England: Yorkshire West Riding (Hodder & Stoughton, London) pp190–1
- ^ The Six-Day Race – Part 1: The Birth (1773-1870)
- ^ a b c d Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, accessed 3 July 2016
- ^ a b Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 46: Powell, Foster
- ^ a b “Last Saturday evening,…” Jackson’s Oxford Journal. 11 December 1773. p. 1. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ “It is a fact, that Mr [Foster] Powell, the celebrated Pedestrian, has engaged for a considerable…” The Newcastle Weekly Courant (Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England). 2 July 1785. p. 2. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ “Powell, the famous pedestrian, set out this day…” Bath Chronicle. 29 October 1789. p. 3. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
- ^ “PEDESTRIAN PERFORMANCE”. Leicester Journal, and Midland Counties General Advertiser. 27 August 1790. p. 4. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
- ^ “THEATRICAL CROWNING of Mr. POWELL, The celebrated PEDESTRIAN”. Public Advertiser. 2 September 1790. p. 1. Retrieved 24 March 2026.