The Count of St. Germain (fl. 1710–1784) was a famous 18th century European aristocrat of unknown origin that moved in high social circles and was close to princes and kings. An alchemist, scientist, linguist, inventor, musician and adventurer, he claimed to be centuries old and sometimes showed mysterious and incomprehensible abilities and powers.





The eighteenth century French writer and philosopher, Voltaire, referred to St. Germain as "a man who knows everything and who never dies". He was also spoken of as "a man of learning", "a lover of truth", "devoted to the good" and "a hater of baseness and deception".

A great believer in peace and liberality, St. Germain dressed neatly and was always well perfumed and widely known for his charming grace, and courtliness of manner. He loved dining out and delighting his company with amusing stories and even gave women recipes for removing wrinkles and dyeing hair...

He claims to have wonderful fabric dyes to give to France. Later on, in Belgium, he tries to interest the state in his processes, which included treatments of wood, leather, oil, and paint. The negotiations fail, but it was said that he turned iron into a pretty yellow substance... In Germany, he called himself Count Welldone, and again offered recipes to the state. He added new ones – cosmetics, wines, liqueurs, treatments for bone, paper, and ivory and also claims to transmute metals. Five years before is supposed death he began studying chemistry and distributed herbal remedies to the poor.

Saint-Germain is recorded to have had the same appearance near the start of the 18th century as he did near its end some eighty years later, a fine-looking man between 30 and 40, of medium height and average build. Those who knew him intimately claimed he never aged. He wore the finest diamonds and appeared to be a wealthy man, though the source of his fortune remained a mystery. He traveled a lot and possessed a marvelous knowledge of all the countries in Europe at all periods. He was well educated, had an incredible memory and spoke many languages (German, English, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, French and more). He also was a personal friend of Voltaire, Rousseau, and a great many other distinguished philosophers.

By far the greatest obvious talents of the Comte de Saint-Germain were connected with his knowledge of alchemy. It is said that Saint-Germain could turn base metals into gold and he claimed he knew how to make a big diamond out of several small stones.
St. Germain was undoubtedly a fascinating and colorful figure that left behind him an endless trail of amazing and intriguing myths and legends. There are many speculations as to his true origin, the source of his wealth, the timing of his supposed death and numerous appearances long after his death.

There were probably several more St-Germains existing in his period. The most prominent was Count Claude-Louis de St. Germain, a French general who served in Prussia and Denmark. Also notable were Pierre-Renault de St. Germain French governor of Calcutta in the 1750s, and Robert-François Quesnay de St. Germain, active in several secret societies.
Little is known of Count Saint-Germain's birth. He was said to be descended from an Alsatian Jew, a Portuguese Jew, a tax-gatherer in Rotondo, or the King of Portugal. Saint-Germain himself did not help to clarify the enigma of his true identity. It has been also alleged, that he was the son of Prince Franz-Leopold Rakoczy (or Ragoczy) of Transylvania (1676-1735), or Juan Tomás Enríquez de Cabrera and Maria Anna von Neuburg (1667-1740), or Marquis de Rivarolo (1669-1749), or Sultan Mustapha II (1664-1703). Later he decided to take the name of Saint-Germain from the little town of San Germano, or from the holy brother, St. Germanus.

St. Germain played a key role behind-the-scenes in many important events of the 18th century: The Scottish Rebellion of 1745, the Seven Years (French & Indian) War, the coup d'etat that put Catherine the Great on the Russian throne and the French Revolution, which he was said to have prophesized. He had intimate relations with many high persons in various countries and associated with the likes of Louis XV, Lafayette, Voltaire, and even Benjamin Franklin.

St. Germain was a secret agent in international politics in the service of France and served as a backchannel diplomat between England and France. He became Louis XV's confidential and intimate counselor and was entrusted by him with various secret missions. This drew on him the enmity of many important men, including, notably, that of the Duke de Choiseul, the minister for foreign affairs. It was this enmity which compelled him to leave hurriedly for England in order to escape imprisonment in the Bastille.

In England He founded Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry. He did this under the name Francis Bacon. It was his dream to create in America a new country free of corruption, greed, and dictatorial monarchies. He helped in formulating the Declaration of Independence and the constitution of the United States as they were being written by his Masonic followers who founded this nation (Their Masonic symbols can be seen on the dollar bill).
Biographers and historians believe that Saint-Germain died in the Denmark on February 27th, 1784. This seems to remain the official date, but from that day forward, the mystery of his death grew deeper and deeper and some believe that he did not die at the place and date that history has fixed.

The official documents of Freemasonry say that in 1785 the French masons chose him as their representative at the great convention that took place in that year, with Mesmer, Saint-Martin, and Cagliostro present. In the following year Saint-Germain was received by the Empress of Russia. Finally, the Comtesse d'Adhemar reports at great length a conversation she had with him in 1789 in the Church of the Recollets, after the taking of the Bastille.

Sightings of the Count continued well past the French Revolution into the days of Napoleon, when he would have been well over 100 years old. Some claim he appeared to them decades later as far as the early 1900's or that he is still alive today.

By reason of his knowledge, of the integrity of his life, of his wealth and of the mystery that surrounded him, the legend of Saint-Germain grew excessively at the end of the 19th century and numerous myths, legends and speculations have surfaced. Was he a Master of a greater power?

The Theosophists considered St. Germain to be one of the hidden immortals who manipulate history. In the 20th century, the "I Am" Activity, and its successors raised St. Germain to the status of a demigod, an 'Ascended Master.' Some groups today believe him to be Merlin, Francis Bacon, or even de Vinci, an immortal “Ascended Master” who has lived since the days of the Egyptian pharaohs and now lives on in another plane.

"…There are men who, when they hear a step on the staircase, think it may perhaps be he, coming to give them advice, to bring them some unexpected philosophical idea... when they go to sleep, are pervaded by genuine happiness because they are certain that their spirit, when freed from the body, will be able to hold converse with the master in the luminous haze of the astral world…" Saint-Germain taught that man has in him infinite possibilities and that, from the practical point of view, he must strive unceasingly to free himself of matter in order to enter into communication with the world of higher intelligences. His belief in spreading goodness around (as Merlin the wizard), his love of life and people, optimism and sense of humor are an inspiration to people around the world. To some, he is still an immortal angle, sent from heaven to offer his wisdom and compassion to man kind.



Today, there's even a thriving Boulevard called Saint-Germain in Paris, on the Left Bank of the Seine River.


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