George Psalmanazar | |
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Born | c. 1679–1684 south France |
Died | |
Occupation(s) | Memoirist, imposter |
Known for | Formosan culture memoir hoax |
George Psalmanazar (c. 1679 – 3 May 1763) was a Frenchman who claimed to be the first native of Formosa (today Taiwan) to visit Europe. For some years, he convinced many in Britain; however, he was eventually revealed to be of European origin. He subsequently became a theological essayist, and a friend and acquaintance of Samuel Johnson and other noted figures in 18th-century literary London.