LOUIS CYR - The Strongest Man in History
Not all Human Marvels are unique in appearance. Many are unique in their deeds. Some of the most unfathomable deeds and physical feats were performed by the strongmen of sideshow. Perhaps the most famous of these strongmen was the Canadian Colossus Louis Cyr.
Louis Cyr was born Cyprien-Noé Cyr on October 10, 1863 in the Quebec town of St. Cyprien de Napierville. Louis was a large child, weighing close to 18 pounds at birth and, from an early age, those around him were impressed with his natural strength. At the age of twelve Louis was a lumberjack and stories of his strength became legendary amongst his peers and coworkers. In 1878, at the age of seventeen, Louis and his family immigrated to the United States. Standing just five feet and ten inches - but weighing in at over 230 pounds - Louis presented his first public display of strength in Boston during a strongest man competition. He stunned the crowd by lifting a horse clear off the ground.
Attempting to capitalize on his stunning performance, Louis returned to Quebec in 1882 and went on a brief tour of Quebec with his wife and family as ‘The Troupe Cyr’. At the conclusion of his tour, Louis became a police officer in Montreal.
Restless in his vocation, he entered another strongman competition in March of 1886 hosted by Quebec City. His competition was ‘World’s Strongest Man’ David Michaud and Louis Cyr bested Michaud easily. During the competition, Louis lifted a 218-pound barbell with one hand. The best Michaud could manage was 158 pounds. Louis also amazed is opponent by squatting a platform weighing 2,371 pounds. Louis was now ‘officially’ the strongest man in in the world.
It is important to note that the physical feats performed by strongmen are often exaggerated and Louis was no exception to this rule. There are stories surrounding Louis that border on the impossible. However many of his feats were formally documented by witnesses and officials. While touring the world Louis once squatted a platform holding 18 men. He also lifted a 500-pound weight with one finger and, in a stunning publicity stunt, pushed a freight car up an incline. His greatest feat of all occurred on October 12th 1891, in Montreal. On that occasion he legitimately won a tug-of-war against four horses.
Although Louis Cyr died of chronic nephritis on November 10th, 1912 his legacy lives on. He was dubbed ‘The Strongest Man in History’ for his amazing physical strength and today there is a district of Montreal named Louis-Cyr in his honor. It is located in Saint-Henri - the same area he patrolled as a police officer. There is also a park, the Parc Louis-Cyr, named after Louis and a statue of ‘The Strongest Man in History’ has stood in the Place des Hommes-Forts - ‘Strongman’s Square’ - since 1970.
The cause of his herculean strength is still unknown but during his remarkable lifetime Louis never backed down from a challenge and he was undefeated in Canada and abroad.
image: a modified promotional photo of Louis Cyr in the priviate collection of the author.
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J. Tithonus Pednaud herein presents for your edification and enlightenment a curious collection of human marvels. These portent and exceptionally unique human beings stand as uplifting testaments to human spirit and serve as inspiring examples of human tenacity.
That’s awesome!
Part of Cyr’s act was to dangle a rope ladder over the edge of a high platform from one finger, which his wife would then climb up. An old poster of this feat showed him doing it with his pinkie. Louis was also famous as a worldclass trencherman, and his intake of food and drink was legendary. His mass increased as he got older and his weight was something over 300 lbs.
those strongmen had this strange habit to pose almost naked . they prbably took it from the greeks . strange ideas from the 19 th century victorian century.
my fathes dad used o talk about him in the days when i was young boy i remember him sayin that when we when fishing one day he said the fish pull hard ;but i knew a man named louis cyr who pulled a train along a rail way line for a mile an if this fish keeps pullin i will be here for a while an thats gospel /
This man is part of my family on my mothers side of the family the cyr family. its good to finally find information about my past family tree.
I knew parts of his life, but its nice to finally find more then just one thing about my great great great grandfather
Excellent. He was a remarkable man. Thanks for stopping by.
His weight were more than 160 KG,I like Saxon And Lurich more,that
weight were much lower than his.But of course Louis Cyr is father
of strength.Natural guy.no steroids or bench press shirt or something
what is not natural.But even Louis Cyr personally can’t beat saxon’s bent press,what is outstanding 160 kg(bent press means with one hand
to press bar)
he is also a part of my family tree and i have a pic of his parents hanging in my living room
My great-great-great uncle. We have a picture of him on our fridge.
As for the cause - this reminds me of the recent cases of (and genetical engineering on) blocked myostatin.
Strongest human in history was Paul Anderson. With respect to Mr Cyr, no one nas lifted anything close to Mr Anderson’s back lift of over 6200 lbs. N o one has equaled Anderson 300lb single arm press for 10 reps, and only recently has anyone squated 1200Lbs, and that bwith a squat suit and a bit of chemical help.
Do your research guys
Peter,
Paul Anderson has never been credited as ‘The Strongest Man in History’ and he has never been advertised as such nor did he ever make the claim himself. He has been credited for lifting the most weight ever by a human being, the 6270 lbs back lift.
Louis Cyr was known as The Strongest Man in History, it’s his epithet. Pound for pound and deed to deed, I’d wager that it was accurate title as well.
He weighed 18 pounds at birth? His mother should get a prize.
How is weighing 18 puonds at birth even possible!?
Could it be that I’m related to this guy?
Louis Cyr was my Grandma’s great uncle. While a lot of accounts
of his feats of strength are true, use judgement in that in the olden days, some of his feats may have been embellished or exagerated. In his last days, he paid for these feats in pain from arthritis and hernia. The Cyr (also spelled Cyrre and St.Cyr) are one of the biggest French families in North America. Two became prominent hockey players in the 80’s (Paul Cyr and Denis Cyr).
I’m proud to have this man in my family tree. My mother’s maiden name was Cyr. I have met a lot of Cyr’s , it’s a big family !! There were a number of brothers that were born, they scattered around, Louis’ family ended up in the Maritimes. My mothers family came from New Brunswick.
I’m always on the look out for any information on my family.
I thought Angus MacAskill was the strongest man in history… but he was a lot bigger than Louis.
Yes! I finally found him! He is my grand father’s father and ive heard all about him , but i never could find much but hear that he “suppositly” ate himself to death, glad to hear something else , and something true for once =3
Are we all related if you say he is apart of your family too?
I wouldnt mind
Would anyone, by any chance answer me if they have the time thank you!!
my grandmother was flora cyr. supposedly louis was her cousin or uncle not sure. heard of him yrs ago.very proud of him
He is a great(x4) uncle of mine. All the men in my family have a freakish resemblance to him I am the first female and good think that mold broke at my father in looks. Our family has always been pretty strong and I am sure the people at a campground in Niagara Falls will sure remember a 160 pound girl moving a full tent trailer and spinning it into position, on my own. I will ask my grandmother exactly what the family line is though (who married who and who gave birth to whom).
I heard Louis Cyr was my grandmother Ida Ethier’s grandfather. I don’t know what her parents names were.