Nicolas-Philippe Ledru

Nicolas-Philippe Ledru (1731, Paris – October 6, 1807, Fontenay-aux-Roses), known as Comus, was a noted European physicist, prestidigitator and illusionist of the late 18th century. He had two sons, Jacques Philippe Ledru (1754–1832), a member of the French National Academy of Medicine and a mayor of Fontenay-aux-Roses, and Jacques Auguste Ledru, an inspector of pawn-shops. The latter is the father of Alexandre Auguste Ledru-Rollin, a lawyer and a French politician.

Nicolas-Philippe Ledru styled himself Comus after the Greek god of mirth and revelry, and entertained royalty, aristocrats, and the general public with his scientific experiments. He traveled extensively throughout Europe demonstrating his tricks and acquired a huge reputation. He had an office in Paris where he performed various experiments for the public on sound, light, electricity, magnetism, incompressibility of water and so on. At his office he also introduced tricks of illusion, such as a female robot getting dressed when asked, a small face with eyes taking on the color of the pupil of the one who looked at it, an artificial hand writing thoughts of a spectator, a "siren" answering questions and so on. Comus occasionally introduced his tricks at the court of Louis XVI, and in May 1777 he gave a performance in Paris for Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor.

Apart from demonstrating magic acts, he devised a new system for nautical maps and an application of electricity for therapeutic purposes for illness of the nervous system or, simply, epilepsy. Louis XV, who appointed him his physician, gave him the title Professeur de Physique des Enfants de France. Louis XVI authorized him to practice at his new hospice Médico-Électrique.

Comus was imprisoned during the Terror but survived the guillotine. He died in 1807 a wealthy man. His fortune ultimately descended to his grandson Alexandre Auguste Ledru-Rollin.

Sources

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