Jean Ginnett

Ginnett's have a long history in circus, variety and theatre performance dating back to the early 1800s, making them one of the oldest circus and variety families in Europe. They are also closely linked with many othere traditional circus family’s such as Sanger’s, Cooke’s, Yelding’s and Austin’s.

Show business started for the Ginnett's in Briton in the early 1800s when they were captured in the Napoleonic wars. At this time Ginnett's were big horse people and thought to be high ranks in the French cavalry. They were brought to England on prison ships. When the wars were over and prisoners released some of the Ginnett's stayed in England. It was Jean Pier Ginnett who started in show business with his Pony and Budgerigar show in Ludgate circus, London

He founded Ginnett\'s Circus in Nottingham in 1841. By 1858, Ginnett\'s touring operation was billed as "a mammoth circus & matchless troupe of equestrians [with a] stud of 70 blood horses and fairy ponies.