History of Magic, a work translated into English by Mary Howitt, remains the most enduring publication associated with the career of Joseph Ennemoser. Born in Egghof bei Rabenstein, located in what is now Moos in Passeier, Italy, he spent his professional life bridging the volatile worlds of military service, clinical medicine, and the controversial study of animal magnetism.
Military Service and Medical Studies
Raised by his grandfather, Ennemoser attended secondary schooling in Merano and Trento before beginning his medical education in Innsbruck in 1806. His studies were interrupted by the 1809 conflict, during which he served as a secretary to Andreas Hofer. By 1813, he had joined the Lützow Free Corps, leading a group of Tyrolean marksmen at Lauenburg and Jülich. He attained the rank of second lieutenant in September 1813 before returning to Berlin to complete his medical training following the 1814 First Treaty of Paris.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Academic Appointments and Mesmerism
Upon completing his medical studies, Ennemoser became a committed proponent of Franz Anton Mesmer and the theories surrounding animal magnetism. In 1819, he accepted a professorship at the University of Bonn. His academic tenure in Bonn lasted until 1837, when he moved to Innsbruck. In 1841, he relocated to Munich. In this city, he established a significant reputation as a magnetic physician, treating patients until the end of his career.
Literary and Philosophical Output
Ennemoser published extensively on the intersection of medicine, psychology, and philosophy. His early dissertation from 1816 examined the influence of mountains on human health. Throughout his career, he explored the nature of the soul, the interaction between mind and body, and anthropological studies, including an analysis of the murderer Adolph Moll. His diverse bibliography includes works on cholera prevention, the theory of animal magnetism, and historical explorations of human nature, culminating in posthumous releases like his 1860 work on world history horoscopes.
Fast facts
- Born: 1787, Moos in Passeier, Italy
- Died: 1854, Rottach-Egern, Germany
- Field: Medicine, philosophy, anthropology
- Employer: University of Bonn
- Military Rank: Second Lieutenant, Lützow Free Corps
- Famous Work: History of Magic
- Languages: German
- Recognition: Ennemosergasse, Vienna
Questions readers ask
What medical theories did Joseph Ennemoser support?
He was a proponent of Franz Anton Mesmer's theory of animal magnetism.
Where did Joseph Ennemoser practice medicine?
He worked in Bonn as a university professor and later gained a reputation as a magnetic physician in Munich.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Bonn
- Fields: hypnosis, philosophy and anthropology
