Valentine Greatrakes

Valentine Greatrakes

Valentine Greatrakes (14 February, 1628 - 28 November, 1683), also known as 'Greatorex' or 'The Stroker', was an Irish faith healer who toured England in 1666, claiming to cure people by the laying on of hands.

Biography

He was born in Affane, County Waterford, Ireland. He was a farmer who served in Cromwell's army and was also registrar for transplantation. In 1662 he claimed he could cure the king's evil (scrofula) by 'stroking' or touching, but failed in a demonstration before Charles II. He resumed farming in 1668 on £1,000 a year. [cite book | last=Lalor | first=Brian (ed) | year=2003 |title=The Encyclopaedia of Ireland | publisher=Gill & Macmillan | location=Dublin, Ireland | isbn=0-7171-3000-2 | pages=p 457 ] In 1670 Greatrakes was endorsed by the noted scientist, Robert Boyle, President of the Royal Society of London.

One of his more notable failures to cure was Anne Finch.

Bibliography

*"A Brief Account of Mr. Valentine Greatrakes and Divers of the Strange Cures by him lately performed. Written by himself in a letter Addressed to the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esq." 1666
* [http://leonardpitt.com/bio.html Leonard Pitt,] "A Small Moment of Great Illumination: Searching for Valentine Greatrakes, The Master Healer," [http://www.shoemakerhoard.com/catalog/small_moment_illumination.html Shoemaker & Hoard,] Emeryville, CA, 2006. ISBN 1-59376-126-0

In fiction

* Greatrakes was mentioned briefly in Susannah Clarke's novel "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell". (pp 211)
*A play by Jim Nolan on Valentine Greatrakes played at the Finborough Theatre, London, in March 2006.
*An important character in William Carleton's "The Evil Eye or, The Black Spectre".
* Greatrakes (using the alternate spelling "Greatorex") features prominently in Iain Pears's "An Instance of the Fingerpost".

External links

* [http://www.dungarvanmuseum.org/exhibit/web/Display/article/45/1;jsessionid=911B007920C90CA58E0F147732A0580B A more detailed biography]
* [http://www.bbk.ac.uk/boyle/workdiaries/WD26Clean.html Robert Boyle: Work-diary XXVI] (Accounts of cures performed by Valentine Greatrakes, 1666)
* [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/16004 The Evil Eye; Or, The Black Spector by William Carleton]

References

:


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • History of hypnosis — This article is about the development of concepts, beliefs and practices related to hypnosis from prehistoric to modern times. Early history Although often viewed as one continuous history, it is important to note that hypnosis per se did not… …   Wikipedia

  • Henry More — This article is about the English philosopher. For the English Jesuit priest and church historian, see Henry More (Jesuit). For those of a similar name, see Henry Moore (disambiguation). Henry More …   Wikipedia

  • Henry More — Henry More. Henry More (12 de octubre de 1614–1 de septiembre de 1687) fue un filósofo inglés de la escuela de Cambridge. Biografía Henry nació en Grantham. Sus padres eran calvinistas, pero él “nunca pudo tragar esa dura doctr …   Wikipedia Español

  • Imposters —     Impostors     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Impostors     Under this heading we may notice a certain number of objectionable characters who, while not of sufficient importance to claim separate treatment, have at various epochs so far achieved… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Joseph Glanvill — en 1681. Gravure de William Faithorne. Joseph Glanvill, né en 1636 et mort en 1680, est un écrivain, philosophe et clergyman anglais. N étant pas scientifique, il est surnommé le « plus talentueux apologiste des virtuoses », ou, en d… …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”