Wolfgang Von Kempelen

Wolfgang Von Kempelen was a Hungarian author and inventor known for his chess-playing 'automaton' hoax The Turk and for his speaking machine.

Have a Question? Chat with Wolfgang Von Kempelen Pedia AI Character on Opedia
Profession :

Inventor

Birthday :

January 23, 1734

Star Sign :

Aquarius

Death Date:

March 26, 1804

Age :

70

Johann Wolfgang Ritter von Kempelen de Pázmánd, commonly known as Wolfgang von Kempelen, was a renowned Hungarian author and inventor. He gained widespread fame for his chess-playing hoax, The Turk, which fascinated audiences across Europe and America, attracting notable figures like Ben Franklin and François-André Philidor to play against it. In addition to The Turk, Kempelen also invented an innovative mechanical speech machine. His other accomplishments encompass contributions to the fields of physics and mechanics, as well as serving as a trusted advisor to Empress Maria Theresa of Austria-Hungary.