Edwin Checkley

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Wikipedia

Edwin Checkley
Born1847
London, England
Died1925 (aged 77–78)
EducationLong Island Medical College
Occupation(s)Athlete, physician

Edwin Checkley (1847–1925) was a British-born American athlete, physician, and the author of a book about strength-training. He was supposedly "one of the strongest men in America" in 1890.[1]

Life

Checkley was born in 1847 in London, U.K.[2] He emigrated to the United States in 1871, settling in Brooklyn, New York City.[1] He studied at the Long Island Medical College.[1] By 1890, he had become a long-distance bicycle rider; for example, he rode from New York City to Chicago.[3] That same year, he was "said to be one of the strongest men in America."[1]

In his 1895 book, A Natural Method of Physical Training, Checkley advocated light bodyweight exercises without dumbbells.[4][5] Nevertheless, the book inspired Alan Calvert, the founder of one of the first barbell companies in the world.[2]

Checkley died in 1925.[2]

Selected works

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "A Brawny Bicyclist". The Sunday Leader. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. September 7, 1890. p. 14. Retrieved January 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 Hoffman, Jonathan; Gabel, C. Philip (2015). "The origins of Western mind–body exercise methods". Physical Therapy Reviews. 20 (5–6): 315–324. doi:10.1080/10833196.2015.1125587. PMC 5022134. PMID 27695277.
  3. ↑ "Results of Physical Training. Edwin Checkley Gives an Exhibition of His Remarkable Powers". The Buffalo Commercial. Buffalo, New York. August 29, 1890. p. 8. Retrieved January 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Janvier, Meredith (May 13, 1925). "Baltimore In The Eighties And Nineties". The Evening Sun. p. 19. Retrieved January 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Recent Publications". The Indianapolis Journal. May 31, 1890. p. 7. Retrieved January 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.