Foster Powell

Foster Powell (1734–15 April 1793) was the first notable exponent of long distance walking known as pedestrianism and has been called "the first English athlete of whom we have any record".

Powell was baptized in Horsforth in 1734, and moved to London in 1762 where he worked as a lawyer's clerk. In 1764 he began his pedestrian career by wagering that he could walk 50 miles in 7 hours, which he accomplished on the Bath Road. He became a national celebrity, but made very little money from walking, which he treated as a hobby, and died in relative poverty at the age of 59 on 15 April 1793. He was buried at St Faith's Church in St Paul's Cathedral Churchyard, after a walking funeral procession.

In 1773 he walked 400 miles from London to York and back, and in 1788 walked 100 miles in 21 hours 35 minutes. He also ran 2 miles in 10 minutes.

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