Jules Léotard (French:; 1 August 1838 – 16 August 1870) was a French acrobatic performer and aerialist who developed the art of trapeze. He also created and popularized the one-piece gym wear that now bears his name and inspired the 1867 song "The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze", sung by George Leybourne.

May 5, 2010 · Jules Léotard, the French acrobat who performed the first flying trapeze act on record at the Cirque Napoléon in Paris in 1859, was the daring young man who ‘flies through the air with the greatest of ease’ in the music hall song.

A leotard (/ ˈ l iː ə t ɑːr d /) is a unisex skin-tight one-piece garment that covers the torso from the crotch to the shoulder. The garment was made famous by the French acrobatic performer Jules Léotard (1838–1870).

Jules Leotard circus trapeze performer and acrobat. Credited as being the inventor of the circus trapeze act. History and photos.

…invented by the French acrobat Jules Léotard in 1859. That same year another Frenchman, Jean-François Gravelet (stage name “Blondin”), crossed Niagara Falls on a tightrope. These events excited public interest in the work of the aerial gymnast and acrobat.

Nov 12, 2017 · For that was the day Jules Leotard performed the world's first flying trapeze act in Paris. His aerial acrobatics astonished audiences, while his costume, created by his wife, came to be...

Jun 26, 2015 · Jules Leotard not only founded trapeze but also pioneered dangerous circus performances, including acts with wild animal tamers and acrobats. He also left a lasting legacy with the introduction of the gymnastics bodysuit (leotard), named after his surname.

Jules Leotard first somersaulted off a trapeze at Cirque Napoléon in Paris on 12th November, 1859. His act inspired gymnasts and circus performers the world over – although Leotard is now best remembered as the inventor of the skin-tight outfits he wore on stage.

In 1860 French circus performer and trapeze artist extraordinaire Jules Léotard published an unusually small volume entitled Mémoires de Léotard. This work promoted Léotard's achievements.

The French acrobatic performer Jules Léotard (c.1839 – 1870[1]), was the man who inspired the 1867 song “The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze” (with lyrics by George Leybourne). He was born in Toulouse, France (there is some question about the exact year of birth), the son of a gymnastics instructor.