Francisco Amorós y Ondeano
Francisco Amorós y Ondeano, otherwise known as the Marquis of Sotelo, contributed to gymnastics in France and to the resurgence of sport in the so-called modern world in general.
Ondeano was born in Valencia, Spain, the son of a brigadier of the Spanish army. At the age of nine he studied at a Saint-Isodore school within Madrid. At sixteen years of age he entered the military, in the capacity of an infantry-man in the army of Cordone.
Ondeano took French nationality during 1816 and opened a gymnasium in Paris during 1817, and another in 1820, for the use of the military and also the general population.
Amongst other works, he published texts entitled:
- New Complete Manual of Physical Education for Gymnastics and Morals.
- Civil French Gymnasium