Samuel Burmister

Samuel Burmister, known as Sam, was an Estonian-born professional wrestler, wrestling trainer and sideshow strongman who lived from 1897 to 1962. He was born in Pärnu on 5 January 1897 to a Jewish family and left Russia after the First World War for a world tour that brought him to Australia in 1925, where he found the wrestling scene so receptive that he settled, emigrating to Brisbane in 1937. He wrestled professionally from 1925 to 1934, won the 1929 Australian Heavyweight title and was several times World Jewish Wrestling Champion. He also performed in vaudeville as The Modern Samson and in the late 1940s trained the rugby star Bob McMaster for the ring. He died in Brisbane on 4 October 1962.