August Brenninkmeijer (1819–1892) is described by his nephew Hermann Gerhard Brenninkmeijer (1850–1906), in the latter’s memoir of the history of C&A, as a tall man of exceptional physical strength. He was reserved and always serious in character and consequently struck children as somewhat formidable. As a person, he was nevertheless distinguished by his kindness and compassion. Due to his diligence as well as his great honesty, uprightness and composure, he was entrusted with training the next Brenninkmeijer generation as itinerant traders. According to the surviving sources, the lives of company founders Clemens and August follow very similar trajectories. Both complete apprenticeships in their father’s company, G. Brenninkmeijer & Co., in the Dutch town of Sneek. On 1 January 1841 they jointly found C&A. In 1860 they open the first C&A shop with regular opening hours. August travels regularly between Sneek and his native Mettingen, where his family lives. After stepping down from the daily running of operations in 1878, he continues to be closely associated with the business. His marriage to Maria Sophia Schulte (1823–1894) produces five children.