Primary sourceDocument1784

Rapport des commissaires chargés par le roi, de l'examen du magnétisme animal

Jean Sylvain Bailly · 1784

The title page of a 1784 royal French report, which Franklin helped produce, debunking Mesmer's theory of animal magnetism.

Franklin served on the royal commission whose findings, debunking Mesmer's animal magnetism, are recorded in this report.

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Title page of a printed French report, 'Rapport des commissaires chargés par le roi, de l'examen du magnétisme animal', printed by order of the King. Below is a royal coat of arms with crown and mantling flanked by branches, then 'A Paris, de l'imprimerie royale' and the date 'M. DCC.LXXXIV'. A red circular library stamp appears on the left. — Jean Sylvain Bailly, Rapport des commissaires chargés par le roi, de l'examen du magnétisme animal, 1784.

About this source

What it is

This is the title page of a 1784 printed report written by Jean Sylvain Bailly for a French royal commission. The commission, which included Franklin, examined and ultimately debunked the theory of 'animal magnetism' promoted by Franz Mesmer. The page shows the title, a royal coat of arms, and the imprint 'de l'imprimerie royale' with the date 1784.

Why it matters

Franklin's participation in this investigation shows his continued scientific work during his years as a diplomat in France. The commission's methods, including blind testing, were an early and influential example of controlled scientific experimentation used to test a popular but unproven claim.

Look closer

Why might a king's government have wanted to officially investigate Mesmer's claims?
What does Franklin's involvement suggest about how he balanced science and diplomacy?
What can a title page alone tell us, and what does it leave unexplained about the investigation itself?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Benjamin Franklin on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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