| Name | John Nevil Maskelyne |
| Date of Birth | 22 December 1839 |
| Place of Birth | Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England |
| Date of Death | 18 May 1917 (aged 77) |
| Place of Death | Marylebone, London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Magician, escapologist, inventor, paranormal investigator |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Taylor (1840–1911) |
| Children | Nevil Maskelyne |
| Parents | John Nevil Maskelyne (1800–1875) and Harriet Brunsdon (1812–1871) |
| Notable Inventions | Pay toilet, other Victorian-era devices |
| Collaborators | George Alfred Cooke, David Devant |
| Famous Works | – “Sharps and Flats: A Complete Revelation of the Secrets of Cheating at Games of Chance and Skill” |
| Founding of Occult Committee | 1914, to investigate and expose claims of supernatural powers |
| Early Career | – Trained as a watchmaker
– Became interested in magic after seeing the Davenport brothers act |
| First Major Act | Recreated the Davenport brothers’ spirit cabinet illusion, exposing their trickery in Cheltenham, June 1865 |
| Partnership with George Alfred Cooke | Built a version of the spirit cabinet, added comedy illusions, and performed successful shows |
| Professional Transition | Transitioned from local performances to a professional magician with organized tours and expanded routines |
