thumb|right|John Henry Anderson, the Wizard of the North

John Henry Anderson (1814–1874) was a Scottish professional magician. Anderson is credited with helping bring the art of magic from street performances into theatres and presenting magic performances to entertain and delight the audience.

Career

Anderson was born near Torphins in Aberdeenshire. Orphaned at the age of ten, he started his career appearing on the stage with a travelling dramatic company in 1830. At seventeen, he began performing magic and in 1837, at the age of twenty-three, he performed at the castle of Lord Panmure, whose endorsement of Anderson inspired him to put a touring show together which lasted for three years.

Anderson's success came from his extensive use of advertising and popular shows which captivated his audience.

thumb|right|Aberdeen, Scotland: The Grave of John Henry Anderson a.k.a. The Wizard Of The North

In 1842, Anderson married Hannah Longherst from Aberdeen, an assistant with his show. He was buried next to his mother in the Kirk of St Nicholas churchyard. Magician Harry Houdini, who was born in the same year as Anderson's death, revered Anderson as one of his inspirations and in 1909 arranged for the upkeep of the gravesite, which had fallen into disrepair. destroying all of Anderson's properties and bankrupting him for the second time in his professional career.

Anderson stated that spiritualism was a "delusion that has driven ten thousand persons mad in the United States."

Stage Name used by Hind after his death

Sometime between 1879 and 1881, self styled "Professor of Magic" Philip Prentis Hind (1844–1920) began using Anderson as his last name and the stage name of Professor Anderson for his magician's act in Australia presenting himself as the successor to the original Wizard of the North. His act included his wife, Louisa, as a clairvoyant.

Publications

  • Shilling's Worth of Magic: Or Tricks to be Learnt in a Train (1853)
  • The Fashionable Science of Parlour Magic: Being the Newest Tricks of Deception, Developed and Illustrated: With an Exposure of the Practices Made Use of by Professional Card Players, Blacklegs, and Gamblers: To which is Added, for the First Time, the Magic of Spirit Rapping, Writing Mediums, and Table Turning (1855)
  • Capital Tricks and Deceptions with Cards (1894)

See also

  • Owners, lessees and managers of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

References

  • Hay, Harry. Cyclopedia of Magic. (1949)
  • Randi, James. Conjuring. (1992)
  • Obituary, New York Times, 5 February 1874, p. 2
  • [https://www.youngwizards.com/ErrantryWiki/index.php/Anderson%2C_John_Henry] – Diane Duane's Errantry Concordance entry, "claiming" he was actually a practising wizard using stage magic as cover
  • John Henry Anderson at Encyclopædia Britannica