Charles Cruft (showman)

Charles Alfred Cruft was a British showman who founded the Crufts dog show. Charles first became involved with dogs when he began to work at Spratt's, a manufacturer of dog biscuits. He rose to the position of general manager, and whilst working for Spratt's in France he was invited to run his first dog show at the 1878 Exposition Universelle. After running dog shows in London for four years, he ran his first Cruft's dog show in 1891, and continued to run a further 45 shows until his death in 1938, as well as running two cat shows in 1894 and 1895. He was involved in a range of dog breed clubs, including that for Schipperkes, Pugs and Borzois. He and his wife upheld a story that they never owned a dog, and instead owned a cat, however Cruft admitted to owning at least one Saint Bernard in his memoirs, published posthumously.

28 June 1852

Born on the same birth day (28 June): Alfred Miodowicz • Ann-Louise Skoglund • Bruce Davison • John Byner • Klaus Schmiegel • Noel Mugavin • Oscar Hiljemark • Pete Candoli • Seth Wescott • Stefi Geyer • Tom Merritt • Türkan Şoray • William Hooper

Born in the same month (June 1852): Antoni Gaudí • Daoud Corm • Friedrich Loeffler • Guido Banti • Theodore Robinson