# Franz Anton Mesmer

> German physician

**Wikidata**: [Q160202](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160202)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Mesmer)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/franz-anton-mesmer

## Summary
Franz Anton Mesmer was a German physician and astronomer whose work in the Holy Roman Empire laid the foundational concepts for modern hypnosis. He is best known for developing the theory of "animal magnetism," a purported natural force possessed by living beings, which introduced the psychological use of suggestion and altered states of consciousness to medical practice.

## Biography
- **Born:** May 23, 1734
- **Died:** March 5, 1815
- **Nationality:** German (Citizen of the Holy Roman Empire)
- **Education:** University of Dillingen, University of Ingolstadt, University of Vienna
- **Known for:** Developing the theory of animal magnetism and pioneering concepts that led to modern hypnosis.
- **Employer(s):** Not specified in source material (noted as an employer relation to Q26242235).
- **Field(s):** Medicine, Astronomy, Hypnosis
- **Member of:** Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities
- **Influenced by:** Maximilian Hell

## Contributions
While specific texts or papers authored by Mesmer are not named in the provided source material, his principal contribution was the conceptualization and practice of "animal magnetism." This theory posited the existence of a natural force transmissible between living beings to produce physical healing and altered states. His practices directly seeded the development of hypnosis—now recognized as an academic discipline and altered state of consciousness characterized by increased receptivity to suggestion. His work influenced subsequent psychological practices, including self-hypnosis, erotic hypnosis, and the founding of psychotherapy schools like the Nancy School. Additionally, his life and theories inspired cultural works such as Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, *"Mesmeric Revelation"*.

## FAQs
**What was Franz Anton Mesmer's professional background?**
Franz Anton Mesmer was a German physician and astronomer who operated within the Holy Roman Empire during the 18th and 19th centuries.

**What is Franz Anton Mesmer's connection to hypnosis?**
Mesmer is a key historical figure connected to hypnosis; he introduced the concept of "animal magnetism," which evolved into the study of suggestion and the altered states of consciousness that define modern hypnotism.

**Where did Franz Anton Mesmer study?**
Mesmer was educated at three notable institutions: the University of Dillingen, the University of Ingolstadt, and the University of Vienna.

**Who influenced Franz Anton Mesmer?**
His work was directly influenced by Maximilian Hell, a Slovak-Hungarian Jesuit renowned as an astronomer, mathematician, and physicist.

**How is Franz Anton Mesmer viewed in the history of psychology?**
He is viewed as a foundational pioneer whose theories on invisible natural forces and suggestion paved the way for modern hypnology and psychotherapy, influencing later figures like the Abbé Faria and Alfred Binet.

## Why They Matter
Franz Anton Mesmer fundamentally altered the trajectory of psychological and medical history by introducing the concept that psychological suggestion could induce altered states of consciousness and facilitate healing. Although his specific theory of "animal magnetism" was highly controversial, it directly established the intellectual and practical groundwork for hypnosis. Without Mesmer's theories, the development of modern therapeutic techniques involving suggestion—such as those explored by the Nancy School and later psychotherapists—would have lacked their foundational historical context. He shifted medical thought toward the internal and subjective forces of the mind, leaving a legacy that bridges Renaissance occult philosophies with modern psychology.

## Notable For
- Being a foundational historical figure in the fields of hypnosis and hypnology.
- Originating the concept of "animal magnetism," a purported invisible force in living things.
- Serving as the direct inspiration for Edgar Allan Poe's short story, *"Mesmeric Revelation"*.
- Receiving an honorary citizenship during his lifetime.
- Being a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities (founded in 1759).
- Maintaining a diverse academic background across major Central European universities (Dillingen, Ingolstadt, Vienna).
- Influencing the development of subsequent psychological schools, including the Nancy School (founded 1886).
- Having his name and theories referenced across multiple cultural and linguistic contexts, including French, German, and English academic works (e.g., *Photographic Studies in Hypnosis, Abnormal Psychology*).

## Body

### Early Life and Identity
Franz Anton Mesmer (also known by aliases Franciscus Antonius Mesmer, Franz Friedrich Anton Mesmer, Anton Mesmer, and Friedrich Anton Mesmer) was born on May 23, 1734, in the Holy Roman Empire. This multi-ethnic complex of territories in Western and Central Europe functioned as a decentralized entity composed of hundreds of semi-autonomous states until its dissolution in 1806. He held German citizenship within this empire.

### Academic Training
Mesmer received a robust education at prominent European institutions:
- **University of Dillingen:** A former university in Dillingen an der Donau, Bavaria, that operated from 1551 to 1803, utilizing both Latin and German.
- **University of Ingolstadt:** A Bavarian university operational from 1472 to 1800, founded by Louis IX.
- **University of Vienna:** A major public research university in Vienna, Austria, founded in 1365 by Duke Rudolf IV.

### Career and Theories
Mesmer pursued dual occupations as a physician and astronomer. His primary field of work (identified as Q8609) focused on the study of animal magnetism and its relation to the human mind. He posited that an invisible natural force (animal magnetism) permeated the universe and could be harnessed by practitioners to induce altered states of consciousness in patients. This methodology relied heavily on the psychological process of "suggestion"—guiding another person’s thoughts or behavior—which eventually became formalized as the academic discipline of hypnosis. 

### Academic Affiliations
Mesmer was affiliated with the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, indicating his active participation in the scientific community of his era. His intellectual development was notably influenced by Maximilian Hell, a Slovak-Hungarian Jesuit astronomer, mathematician, and physicist (1720–1792). 

### Legacy and Cultural Impact
Franz Anton Mesmer died on March 5, 1815. His legacy, however, endured well into the modern era. The term "hypnosis" (named after Hypnos, the Greek personification of sleep) traces its historical roots directly back to Mesmer's pioneering efforts. His concepts influenced a wide array of future figures in psychology and psychiatry, including:
- The Abbé Faria (a pioneer of hypnotism)
- Armand-Marie-Jacques de Chastenet, Marquis of Puységur
- Joseph Ennemoser
- Alfred Binet
- Edgar Bérillon
- Frederik van Eeden

His work also inspired the creation of the Nancy School in 1886, a French hypnosis-centered school of psychotherapy. Culturally, his fame was such that he became the subject of Edgar Allan Poe's short story, *"Mesmeric Revelation"*, securing his place in literary history alongside his scientific one.

## References

1. Mesmer, Franz Anton (BLKÖ)
2. BnF authorities
3. Integrated Authority File
4. [Source](https://www.deutsche-biographie.de/downloadPDF?url=sfz62190.pdf)
5. [Franz Anton Mesmer dies in Germany. 2015](http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/franz-anton-mesmer-dies-germany)
6. Q57979550
7. Q58002067
8. The Fine Art Archive
9. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
10. Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
11. International Standard Name Identifier
12. Virtual International Authority File
13. CiNii Research
14. The Discovery of the Unconscious
15. Who Named It?
16. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
17. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
18. Base biographique
19. Pedagogues and Psychologists of the World
20. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
21. Brain, Mind and Medicine:: Essays in Eighteenth-Century Neuroscience
22. The Bleeding of Mozart
23. Hypnotism and the doctors
24. Autoritats UB
25. Shakeosphere
26. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
27. Quora
28. Enciclopedia Treccani
29. LIBRIS. 2013
30. [Source](https://mix-n-match.toolforge.org/#/entry/63768643)
31. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
32. Regional Database of the Central Bohemian Research Library in Kladno
33. [Personality Database ™️ | Famous People and Characters | Personality Database ™️ 2022](https://www.personality-database.com/profile/151058/franz-mesmer-biology-medicine-mbti-personality-type)
34. Catalogo of the National Library of India