Editing Franz Mesmer (section)

{{Short description|German physician (1734–1815)}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox scientist
| birth_name        = Franz Anton Mesmer
| image             = Franz Anton Mesmer, MRF - Vizille.jpg
| image_size        = 200px
| caption           = Print of Franz Anton Mesmer<br >([[Musée de la Révolution française]])
| birth_date        = {{birth-date|23 May 1734|23 May 1734}}
| birth_place       = Iznang, [[Bishopric of Constance]]
(now [[Moos, Baden-Württemberg]])
| death_date        = {{death date and age|1815|3|5|1734|5|23|df= y}}
| death_place       = [[Meersburg]], [[Grand Duchy of Baden|Baden]]
| citizenship       = 
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| alma_mater        = [[University of Vienna]]
| doctoral_advisor  = 
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| known_for         = [[Animal magnetism]]
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}}

'''Franz Anton Mesmer''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɛ|z|m|ər}} {{respell|MEZ|mər}};<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mesmer "Mesmer"]. ''[[Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary]]''.</ref> {{IPA|de|ˈmɛsmɐ|lang}}; 23 May 1734 – 5 March 1815) was a German [[physician]] with an interest in [[astronomy]]. He theorized the existence of a process of natural [[Energy (esotericism)|energy]] transference occurring between all animate and inanimate objects; this he called "[[animal magnetism]]", later referred to as ''mesmerism''. Mesmer's theory attracted a wide following between about 1780 and 1850, and continued to have some influence until the end of the 19th century.<ref name=Crabtree>Crabtree, introduction</ref> In 1843, the Scottish doctor [[James Braid (surgeon)|James Braid]] proposed the term "[[hypnosis|hypnotism]]" for a technique derived from animal magnetism; today the word "[[wiktionary:en:mesmerism|mesmerism]]" generally functions as a synonym of "hypnosis". Mesmer also supported the arts, specifically music; he was on friendly terms with [[Haydn]] and [[Mozart]]{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}.