Adam Weishaupt, 1748-1811, founder
of the Order of the Illuminati.
Weishaupt
was born and raised in Ingolstadt, where he studied law and attained the rank
of Professor of Canon Law in 1772. Though educated by Jesuits and for a time a
member of their order, he broke with them and became increasingly liberal in
his religious and political views, favoring deism and republicanism. His
interests were widespread, including an early fascination with aeronautics.
With the
help of, and occasional fiction with, Bron von Knigge, Weishaupt in1776 formed the Order of Perfectibilists, which later became known as the
Illuminati. Although the Order was founded to provide an opportunity for the
free exchange of ideas, Weishaupt's background as a Jesuit seems to have
influenced the actual character of the society, which was determined by an
elaborate network of spies and counter-spies.
A year
after the society was banned by