Born in Surrey in around 1765, Sarah Hengler (maiden name unknown) was a tightrope walker who married another circus performer, John Michael Hengler. After her marriage, she began to create and present firework displays for Vauxhall Gardens, Astley’s Royal Ampitheatre, Surrey Theatre, and other one-offs at venues. Madame Hengler, as she was styled, frequently collaborated with Madame Saqui, incorporating fireworks into the tightrope dancing. Hengler would also tour with her circus family, providing fireworks for their acrobatic rope performances, too.
Madame Hengler in The Comic Annual Second Edition by Thomas Hood
John Michael died in 1802 and Sarah took over the business, running it for another almost four decades. She did remarry in 1808, becoming Mrs Fields, but continue to use the professional name Madame Hengler (sometimes Signora Hengler).
Hengler was called c. 1822 the King’s Pyrotechnic, and was credited with inventing a rocket element for ships in distress near shore to support a rescue chair.
Called one of the “Fire Queens” of Vauxhall Gardens, Hengler was one of four main pyrotechnics operating during the Regency, including Chevalier Southby, Signor Mortram, and Madame Coton. When Signor Mortram’s factory in Mead Place burned to the ground in 1818, Hengler was able to obtain a three year exclusive deal with Vauxhall Gardens, leading to speculation that Hengler may have been behind the fire. But these pyrotechnics often collaborated, and Hengler’s own warehouse and showrooms suffered a series of explosions in 1818 that killed three people.
Hengler herself would retire in 1841, being succeeded by her daughter Magdalene, and Sarah would die four years later in a fire at her warehouse and showroom.
I learned about Hengler and all the pyrotechnists while research my book, where they make an appearance alongside discussions of spectacles at masquerades:
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