Jean_Eugène_Robert-Houdin

Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ øʒɛn ʁɔbɛʁ udɛ̃]; 7 December 1805 – 13 June 1871) was a French watchmaker, magician and illusionist, widely recognized as the father of the modern style of conjuring. He transformed magic from a pastime for the lower classes, seen at fairs, to an entertainment for the wealthy, which he offered in a theatre opened in Paris, a legacy preserved by the tradition of modern magicians performing in tails.