Ira Erastus Davenport (1839 – 1911) and William Henry Davenport (1841 – 1877), better known as the Davenport Brothers, were American magicians in the late 1800s, sons of a Buffalo, New York policeman. The brothers are famous for deceptively presenting illusions that were claimed to be of a supernatural origin. 1839 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1911 was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1877 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Harry Houdini one of the greatest names in magic history. ... Events and Trends Beginning of the Napoleonic Wars (1803 - 1815). ... Aerial view of downtown Buffalo, New York Buffalo, also known as The Queen City, Tuffalo, The Nickel City, and the City of Good Neighbors, is an American city in western New York. ... State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki (R) Official languages None (English is de facto) Area 141,205 km² (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water 18,795 km² (13. ... The supernatural (Latin:super- exceeding+nature) comprises forces and phenomena which are beyond the realm of current scientific understanding, and which may actually directly contradict conventional scientific understandings. ...

The Davenports began performing in 1854, less than a decade after the spiritualism movement had taken off in America. After the stories of the Fox sisters began to receive public attention, the Davenports started reporting similar occurrences happening to them. Their father resigned from his police job and took up managing his sons and the group was joined by William Fay, a Buffalo resident with an interest in conjuring. Their shows were introduced by a Presbyterian minister, Dr. J. B. Ferguson, who falsely assured the audience that the brothers worked exclusively by spirit power rather than the deceptive trickery of commercial magicians. 1854 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Fox Sisters Sisters Catherine (1838–1892), Leah (1814–1890) and Margaretta (1836–1893) Fox are generally seen as the creators of Spiritualism. ... Presbyterianism is part of the Reformed churches family of denominations of Christian Protestantism based on the teachings of John Calvin which traces its institutional roots to the Scottish Reformation, especially as led by John Knox. ...

The Davenports' most famous effect was their box illusion. The brothers were tied up and closed inside a large box which contained a number of musical instruments. Once the box was closed, the instruments would be made to sound. Upon opening the box, the brothers were found tied in the same positions in which they had started the illusion. Those who witnessed the effect were made to believe that supernatural forces had caused the trick to work. A musical instrument is a device that has been constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ...

They toured the United States for ten years and then traveled to England where spiritualism was beginning to become popular. In 1868 the team was joined by Harry Kellar. Kellar and Fay eventually would leave the group to pursue their own career together as a magician team. Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population - Total (mid-2004) - Density Ranked 1st UK 50. ... 1868 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Publicity Poster of Harry Kellar. ...

A number of famous magicians including John Henry Anderson and Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin worked to expose the frauds of the Davenport Brothers, both by writing exposés and performing duplicate effects in their own acts. A pair of amateur magicians followed the brothers' act around Britain, tying the Davenports into their box with a knot that could not be easily removed and thus ruined and exposed the trick to angry audiences who demanded their money back. John Henry Anderson (1814 – 1874) was a professional magician, born in Kincardine, Scottland. ... Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, (December 6, 1805 - 1871) was a French magician, born in Blois, France, where he also died. ... Some knots: 1. ...

The Davenports were rejoined by William Fay for a final American tour before William Henry's death in 1877. Fay settled in Australia and Ira Erastus lived quietly in America until the two reunited in 1895 and toured with a show that was a failure with the public. 1895 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

Before his death in 1911, Ira Erastus was interviewed by escape artist Harry Houdini. Ira told Houdini that he and his brother had never actually confirmed belief in spiritualism to their audiences and that the announcements made by Dr. Ferguson were simply part of the act. Houdini thought it was important to make it clear to his audiences that all of his escapes were accomplished by feats of skill alone. Harry Houdini (March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was the stage name of Ehrich Weiss (born Weisz Erik in the native Hungarian), one of the most famous magicians, escapologists, and stunt performers of all time as well as an investigator of spiritualists. ... This article is about the study of escapology. ...

Further Reading

Nichols, Thomas Low. Biography of the Brothers Davenport. 1864. (reprinted in 1976) ISBN 0405079699 1864 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...