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Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers

1755 – 1841

French officier & magnetist

Military officer Magnetizer
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About Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers

Lived 1755 – 1841 (aged 86). Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers was a French military officer and magnetizer.

Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers (1755–1841) was a French magnetizer and an early practitioner of mesmerism as a scientific discipline. He's best known for coining the term hypnotism.

Hénin de Cuvillers was a follower of Franz Anton Mesmer (1734–1815). However, unlike Mesmer he did not believe in the existence of a "magnetic fluid" in animal magnetism, and instead emphasized the role of mental processes in mesmerism. In his book (The Enlightened Magnetism), he describes accounts of mesmeric effects in terms of belief and suggestibility.

He is credited for popularizing a system of scientific nomenclature by using the prefix "" in words such as (hypnotic), (hypnotism) and (hypnotist). He used these terms as early as 1820, and is believed by many to have coined these names. In 1820 he became editor of the (Archives of Animal Magnetism).

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Awards
Officer of the Legion of Honour; Knight of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis

People in Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers's life

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Frequently asked questions

Who was Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers?

French officier & magnetist (1755–1841)

When was Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers born?

Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers was born on 27 April 1755.

When did Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers die?

Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers died on 2 August 1841 in Paris.

What was Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers's occupation?

Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers was a military officer and magnetizer.

What nationality was Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers?

Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers was French.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers

· Wikidata: Q3592176

· DBpedia: Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers. https://biography.guide/etienne-felix-d-henin-de-cuvillers/

MLA: "Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/etienne-felix-d-henin-de-cuvillers/.

Chicago: "Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/etienne-felix-d-henin-de-cuvillers/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-24 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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