One of the most famous circus performers of all time was Charles Blondin. in 1829, When he was five, a circus came to his town in France. When he saw the tightrope walker he decided he wanted to do that. He started practising at home, and when he was only nine he joined a circus.
In the 1850s Blondin went to America, where he did his most amazing tightrope walks. In 1859 thousands of people watched him walk across Niagara Falls between the USA and Canada. Blondin's wire was 350 metres long, and it was 50 metres above the water. Blondin crossed the falls again, riding across the wire on a bicycle. The next time, he stopped in the middle to eat an egg! Finally he waled across carrying a man on his back!