Compars Herrmann
| Compars (Carl) Herrmann | |
|---|---|
Prof. Herrmann
|
|
| Born |
January 23, 1816 Hanover, Germany |
| Died | June 8, 1887 (aged 71) Karlsbad, Germany |
| Occupation | Magician, Illusionist |
| Notable credit(s) | Performed for the crowned heads of Europe: Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria, King Ludwig I of Bavaria, King Don Pedro V of Portugal, King Frederick VII of Denmark, and Queen Isabella II of Spain |
| Relatives |
Alexander Herrmann (brother) Leon Herrmann (nephew) |
Carl (Compars) Herrmann (1816–1887) was a German illusionist.
The Herrmann family name is known as the "first-family of magic". Alexander's father Samuel, a practicing German physician, was the first to enjoy magic as a hobby. Samuel's first son Carl (Compars), was born in 1816 and left medical school at an early age to pursue a career as a magician. He was the first in the family to gain fame as a conjurer. By the age of thirty, Carl was recognized as one of Europe's most accomplished magician. Alexander Herrmann, who was 27 years younger than his brother Carl, also became a world-famous magician.
According to Herrmann legend, Alexander's father was a part-time magician and full-time physician. Samuel Herrmann was a favorite of the Sultan of Turkey, who sent for the magician often. The Sultan paid a princely sum for the entertainment. It was said that Samuel even performed for Napoleon Bonaparte. The story goes that he was receiving so much attention from the elite of Paris with his magic shows, that word spread to Napoleon himself. The self-crowned emperor wanted Samuel to perform for him. Napoleon reportedly gave Samuel a gold watch for his performance. Alexander carried the gold watch on the day of his death. It was passed on to his widow.
Eventually his practice demanded more of his time, so he eventually quit magic entirely. With the birth of his oldest son Compars in 1816 in Hanover Germany, he decided to settle down to continue his practice.
This is the myth. The reality is confusing. Some reports say that Samuel was never a professional magician, but a physician who only did magic as a hobby. Another report says that he was never a physician, but rather was a traveling magician who never quite achieved fame, as his son was soon to do.
He played small towns around from 1817 in Germany and moved his family to France. He played institutes and lyceums of Paris and gave performances until 1855. He taught his skills to his oldest son Compars, also known as Carl. There is no record of him performing in well known theatres. But he did play the colleges in Paris and Versailles. Samuel entertained the pupils of the Grandes écoles (founded by Lazare Carnot) near Versailles. With this performance, his son Carl was admitted to the school tuition free.
Samuel continued in this way even after his son Carl became a famous magician. Samuel retired about 1860 and lived quietly with his wife Anna on a pension set up by Carl.
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Wikipedia