Ben Weider
| Ben Weider | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
February 1, 1923 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Died | October 17, 2008 (aged 85) Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Other names | The President |
| Occupation | President of the IFBB |
| Known for | Co-creating the IFBB |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight | 160 lb (72.6 kg) |
| Relatives |
Joe Weider (brother, deceased) Eric Weider (son) |
| Website | www.weider.com |
Benjamin "Ben" Weider, OC CQ CD (February 1, 1923 – October 17, 2008) was the co-founder of the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness (IFBB) along with brother Joe Weider. He was a Canadian businessman from Montreal, well known in two areas: Bodybuilding and Napoleonic history.
Benjamin Weider was born on February 1, 1923 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada to Louis and Anna Weider, Polish-Jewish immigrants from the town of Kurów in Poland. He served in the Canadian Army during World War II.
In bodybuilding he founded and ran a physical fitness and sporting goods company bearing his name. He was IFBB president until October 29, 2006, when he announced his retirement.
In Napoleonic circles Weider was known as a forceful advocate of the theory that Napoleon was assassinated by a member of his entourage during his exile in Saint Helena. He co-authored several books, Assassination at St. Helena and Assassination at St. Helena Revisited, with Sten Forshufvud and The Murder Of Napoleon, with David Hapgood about this. Weider also founded the International Napoleonic Society, of which he was the President, and wrote numerous articles for this organization.
In 1975 he was made a Member of the Order of Canada and was promoted to Officer in 2006. In 2000, he was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec. On October 12, 2000, he received the French Legion of Honor, that country's highest honour, which was established by Bonaparte himself. Weider was also a 1984 nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, a member of the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame, and a Commander of the Venerable Order of St. John. He also had several honorary doctorate degrees. The Institute on Napoleon and the French Revolution at the Florida State University History Department has recently created the Ben Weider Chair in Revolutionary Studies. In total, Ben accumulated over 66 awards and honours during his lifetime.
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Wikipedia