NATIONAL

PERIOD IN
ENGLAND
Presented By : Renjoy Lumactod &
Virginia Ymbong
 ARCHIBALD MACLAREN 1

(1819-1884)
-He was a teacher of physical education, gymnastics
and fencing.
-He contributed to the science of physical training, and
it was Maclaren’s belief that fitness was the key to a
successful army.
-His system of physical training was adopted by the
British Army and the public schools in the later
nineteenth century.
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-He was born in Edinburgh
-He went to Paris around the age of 16 to study
fencing, gymnastics and medicine, where he
became interested in physical training.
-At the age of 21 he was listed as a fencing
master in Oxford.
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-After successfully equipping fencing and gymnastic
rooms in Oxford, in 1858 he built his own gymnasium.
-In 1864 Archibald Maclaren and his second wife
Gertrude opened a school in Oxford, Summerfield
House School (today known as Summer Fields).
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He was placed in charge of the Army Gymnastics Staff
(which later became the Army Physical Training
Corps) and his methods shared a common motto with
the A.P.T.C.: “Mens sana in corpore sano”. This Latin
quotation is often translated as ‘A healthy mind in a
healthy body’.
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-In 1869 the Clarendon Press published Maclaren's
book A System of Physical Education, Theoretical and
Practical.
-Maclaren died after a lingering illness at the age of 65
on 19 February 1884 and was buried at Summertown
on 22 February.
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Within Great Britain, medical student Archibald Maclaren

spread the word on benifits of fitness and regular
exercise.

Maclaren, loke Per Henrik Ling of Sweden was

fascinated in the scientific components of fitness.
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His lifetime works in these areas are recorded in National

Systems of Bodily Exercise and Training in Theory and
Practice.

Maclaren made several observation based on his work,

which are remarkably similar to present-day exercise
recommendations.
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Firstly, Maclaren believed the cure of weariness and stress

was physical action.

Secondly, he noted recreational exercise found in games

and sport was not sufficient for attaining adequate fitness
levels.
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Finally, Maclaren realized both growing boys and
girls required regular exercise. In agreement with
Ling. Maclaren also recognized the need for
individual variation in fitness training programs.
Furthermore, he documented the importance of
progression of exercise.