Jacob Philadelphia is believed to have been born on August 14,
1735 and given the name Jacob Meyer. His date of death is believed to have been in
1795. He was a
Jewish magician, physicist, mechanic, juggler, astrologer, alchemist, and
Kabbalist.
Dr. Christopher Witt, the associate of
Johannes Kelpius, was chiefly responsible for his education. Meyer's patron in
England was
Prince Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn, for whom he performed
astrology, magic, and
alchemy.
When he converted to
Christianity, Jacob Meyer took the name of Jacob Philadelphia in homage to the home city of the
American scientist and
statesman Benjamin Franklin. He was also known by the names Meyer Philadelphia and Philadelphus Philadelphia. Meyer became a member of the
occult Rosicrucian order. After the death of his patron in
1756, Meyer began to perform in public. He exhibited his skills in
Ireland, Portugal, and
Spain. In
1771, he performed in
St. Petersburg for
Catherine II of Russia. Also, in
Constantinople, he had Sultan
Mustapha III as an audience.
1773 found him chasing away ghosts for
Kaiser Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor in
Vienna at a charge of 300
Thalers. In
Potsdam and
Berlin, he had difficulty with
Friedrich the Great, who was alarmed after Meyer read his mind. Friedrich was also averse to Meyer's Rosicrucianism and subsequently banished the magician from
Prussia.
Little Treatise on Strange and Suitable Feats was written by Meyer in
1774. In
1758, he toured England. Although he presented himself as being a scientist, many took him for a magician. In
1777 he refused to lecture in
Göttingen because of an extravagant, satirical poster campaign by
Georg Christoph Lichtenberg who
libeled him as being a magician and miracle worker.
Lichtenberg's Avertissement placard became widely known and damaged Meyer's career. His final lecture was given in
1781 in
Switzerland. In
1783, he made an application to the
Prussian court in order to be licensed to form the Prussian-American Trading Company.
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