Jacob Philadelphia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jacob Philadelphia
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Image of the magician/scientist Jacob Philadelphia
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| Born |
Jacob Meyer
August 14, 1735 |
| Died | 1795 |
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Notable work
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Little Treatise on Strange and Suitable Feats |
- For the child who asked President Barack Obama about his hair, see Hair Like Mine
Jacob Philadelphia was a truly amazing person from the 1700s. He was known as a skilled magician and a smart physicist, someone who studied how the world works. He was also a mechanic, building clever devices, and a talented juggler. People even thought he could predict the future using astrology and try to turn metals into gold through alchemy. He was also involved in Kabbalah, a mystical tradition.
Contents
Life Story of Jacob Philadelphia
Jacob Philadelphia was born as Jacob Meyer on August 14, 1735. It is believed he was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A man named Dr. Christopher Witt helped educate him. Later, in England, Jacob Meyer had a powerful supporter: Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn. For the Prince, Jacob performed astrology, magic, and even tried alchemy.
Becoming Jacob Philadelphia
When Jacob Meyer became a Christian, he chose the name Jacob Philadelphia. This was a way to honor his hometown and the famous American scientist and statesman Benjamin Franklin. He was also sometimes called Meyer Philadelphia or Philadelphus Philadelphia. Jacob Meyer joined a secret group called the Rosicrucian order, which focused on spiritual and scientific knowledge.
Performing for Royalty
After his supporter, Prince Henry, passed away in 1756, Jacob Meyer started performing for the public. He traveled and showed his skills in many countries. He performed in Ireland, Portugal, and Spain. In 1771, he even performed in St. Petersburg for Catherine II of Russia, who was a powerful empress. He also performed for Sultan Mustafa III in Constantinople.
In 1773, Jacob Philadelphia was in Vienna. There, he was paid 300 Thalers to "chase away ghosts" for Kaiser Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor. However, he faced trouble in Potsdam and Berlin. Frederick the Great, the King of Prussia, was worried when Meyer seemed to read his mind. The King also disliked Meyer's connection to the Rosicrucian group. Because of this, the King banished Jacob Philadelphia from Prussia.
Pioneer of Phantasmagoria
Jacob Meyer was one of the first people to create a type of magic show called phantasmagoria. This show focused on making ghostly figures appear. It was a very popular and spooky performance for its time.
Challenges and Later Life
In 1774, Jacob Meyer wrote a book called Little Treatise on Strange and Suitable Feats. He toured England in 1758. Even though he presented himself as a scientist, many people saw him as a magician.
In 1777, he refused to give a lecture in Göttingen. This was because a professor named Georg Christoph Lichtenberg created a very exaggerated and funny poster campaign. The posters made fun of Jacob Philadelphia, calling him a magician and miracle-worker. They even suggested that attending his lecture could be dangerous. This poster, known as Lichtenberg's Avertissement, became very famous and hurt Jacob Meyer's career.
His last known lecture was in 1781 in Switzerland. In 1783, he tried to get permission from the Prussian court to start a company called the Prussian-American Trading Company. Jacob Philadelphia is believed to have passed away in 1795.
Book About His Life
A biographical novel has been written about Jacob Philadelphia's life. It was written in German by Marion Philadelphia. The book's title is Der Gaukler der Könige, which means The Conjurer of Kings.
