Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin
Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jean-Eugène Robert 7 December 1805 Blois, France |
| Died | 13 June 1871 (aged 65) Saint-Gervais-la-Forêt, France |
| Occupation(s) | Magician, illusionist, inventor, author, and clockmaker |
| Spouse | Josèphe Cecile Houdin (1830–1843; her death) François Marguerite Olympe Braconnier (1844–1871; his death) |
Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ øʒɛn ʁɔbɛʁ udɛ̃]; 7 December 1805 – 13 June 1871) was a French watchmaker, magician and illusionist, widely recognized as the father of the modern style of conjuring. He transformed magic from a pastime for the lower classes, seen at fairs, to an entertainment for the wealthy, which he offered in a theatre opened in Paris, a legacy preserved by the tradition of modern magicians performing in tails.