The Victorian Doctor Who Sold Mesmerism

Robert Hanham Collyer was a 19th-century physician who gained fame by peddling mesmerism and phrenology across North America. He blended legitimate medical training with the era’s most bizarre fringe sciences.

Collyer operated during a time when science and showmanship often blurred together. While he was a trained doctor, he became fascinated by the supposed power of animal magnetism and the study of skull shapes. He traveled extensively to lecture on these topics, convincing crowds that he could control minds or predict personalities. His career highlights how even trained professionals embraced eccentric beliefs during the nineteenth century.