had some influence on Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia through a Rosicrucian lodge and ghost-raising sessions. It has been suggested that he owned and used Schrepfer's optical apparatus to conjure up spirits. Soon after Schröpfer's death there was a plethora of polemic publications either attacking or defendeding his supposed abilities to raise ghosts, including writings by Moses Mendelssohn, Christian August Crusius, Balthasar Bekker and Johann Christian Wiegleb. Schrepfer became quite famous across Europe; several publications included explanations of techniques he might have used to conjure apparitions, which inspired several people to recreate Schrepfer's séances. In 1791 and 1792 phantasmagoria pioneer Paul Philidor advertised his shows under the title "Schröpferische Geister Erscheinungen" (Schröpferesque ghost appearances). Friedrich Schiller's unfinished novel The Ghost-Seer, of which installments were published between 1787–1789, is believed to have been inspired by Schrepfer. References Bibliography Friedrich Kittler, Optical Media, Cambridge: Polity Press, 2010, pp. 98–101. 1738 births 1774 deaths German magicians People from Leipzig Suicides by firearm in Germany Phantasmagoria Criminals from Saxony