In the 18th century, magic, or conjuring as it was referred, emerged as a genuine art form and entertainment. Professors of "natural philosophy" and conjuring would rent taverns, legitimate theaters or lecture halls for the exhibition and displays of the latest scientific discovery, mechanical innovation or mathematical theory. The conjurers of the 18th Century grew these ideas into full displays for all to see and experience. Cultivating the theories, innovations and discoveries of the early scientists and inventors, the conjurers used their skill in the magical arts to create, in reality, what the public could only dream. Professor DR Schreiber will present the connection between early science and modern magic in his lecture and discuss how many of these conjurers helped to influence later generations of inventors, scientists, dreamers and beyond.
