George B. Chapman

George Bruce Chapman started as an animal dealer and exhibitor in c.1922 with a collection of animals probably purchased from the estate of animal dealer and naturalist John Hamlyn, who died in 1922. Not coming from a circus background Chapman worked with Fossett Circus to set up the business.

Chapman Circus was established by George B. Chapman in 1928.

In 1933 George Chapman presented a collection of animals at the Bellevue Gardens in Belfast, including two zebras, a pair of lions, a tiger, four Russian bears, one hyena, a few pelicans and a baby Asiatic elephant. In 1934 he became the co-founder of the Belfast Zoo with the Belfast Corporation. The zoo, also known as Bellevue Zoo, because it was built on the Bellevue site, was operated by George Chapman until his death on 15th March 1935. The Chapman business passed to George’s sister Ada Mary Chapman (1880-1965), who continued running Belfast Zoo and the Chapman Circus until 1940 when business was brought to a halt by the Second World War. Animals and equipment were put up for sale at auction and the animals that didn’t sale were moved to Ada’s property in Worcester.

University of Sheffield