Home, DANIEL DUNGLAS

Home, DANIEL DUNGLAS, spiritualist, was born near Edinburgh, March 20, 1833, and was taken by an aunt to the United States, where by 1850 he had become a famous medium. He began the study of medicine, but was persuaded by his friends to practise spiritualism instead; and in 1855 he removed to London to carry on his 'mission.' Home was a proficient in mesmerism and such-like sciences, and to table-turning and spirit-rapping he added, for advanced disciples, speaking ghosts, and a display of his own powers of floating in the air. He made many converts, though not all the great people he claimed. He was presented at several courts, and to the pope; and he joined the Roman Catholic Church, but was ultimately expelled for spiritualistic practices. In 1866 he acceded to a Mrs Lyon's suggestion that he should become her adopted son, she assigning to him £60,000; but this money his fickle patroness afterwards compelled him to restore, and the lawsuit discredited Home greatly, though he was scarcely to blame in the matter. He died at Anteuil, 21st June 1886. He published two series of Incidents of my Life (1863 and 1872), and Lights and Shadows of Spiritualism (1877); see also D. D. Home: his Life and Mission (1888), and a continuation, The Gift of D. D. Home (1890), both by his widow.