Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Feinaigle, Gregor von
FEINAIGLE, GREGOR von (1765?–1819), mnemonist, born at Baden about 1765, visited Paris in 1806, and delivered public lectures on local and symbolical memory, which he described as a ‘new system of mnemonics and methodics.’ He was accompanied by a young man who acted as interpreter. Count Metternich, the Austrian ambassador, and his secretaries followed the whole course of lectures, and spoke in highly laudatory terms of the system, which, though novel in its applications, was founded on the topical memory of the ancients, as described by Cicero and Quinctilian. Feinaigle was exposed to much criticism and sarcasm in the press, and was ridiculed on the stage by Dieulafoy in a farce called ‘Les filles de mémoire, ou le Mnémoniste.’ By way of reply he gave on 27 Feb. 1807 a public exhibition to an audience of about two thousand persons. He did not himself appear, but was represented by twelve or fifteen of his pupils, who gave illustrations of his art. Afterwards he went on a lecturing tour through various parts of France. Early in 1811 he came to England and delivered lectures at the Royal Institution and the Surrey Institution in London; and at Liverpool, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. The fee for attending a course of fifteen or sixteen of his lectures was 5l. 5s., and this sum was paid by crowds of pupils, for Feinaigle made a mystery of the details of his method, and was in consequence denounced in some quarters as an impostor. He gained, however, many devoted adherents. The Rev. Peter Baines [q. v.], afterwards bishop of Siga, introduced his system of mnemonics and also his general plan of education into the Benedictine college of Ampleforth, Yorkshire, and a society of gentlemen founded a school near Mountjoy Square, Dublin, which was placed under Feinaigle's personal superintendence and conducted on his principles. He died in Dublin on 27 Dec. 1819.
The most complete exposition of his system is contained in ‘The New Art of Memory, founded upon the principles taught by M. Gregor von Feinaigle, and applied to Chronology, History, Geography, Languages, Systematic Tables, Poetry, Prose, and Arithmetic. To which is added some account of the principal systems of artificial memory, from the earliest period to the present time; with instances of the extraordinary powers of natural memory,’ London, 1812, 12mo; 2nd and 3rd editions, with numerous additions, and a portrait of Feinaigle, 1813. John Millard, assistant librarian to the Surrey Institution, was the editor of this work, as the present writer was informed by the late Rev. Thomas Hartwell Horne, who was Millard's brother-in-law, and who assisted him in taking notes of Feinaigle's lectures. The following treatises on the system also appeared: ‘Notice sur la Mnémonique, ou l'art d'aider et de fixer la Mémoire en tout genre d'études, de sciences, ou d'affaires, par Grégoire de Feinaigle,’ Paris, 1806, 8vo; and ‘Mnemonik oder praktische Gedächtnisskunst zum Selbstunterricht nach den Vorlesungen des Herrn von Feinaigle,’ Frankfort-on-the-Main, 1811, 8vo.
[New Art of Memory, 1st edit. pp. 222–40; Biog. Dict. of Living Authors, p. 365; Biog. nouvelle des Contemporains (Paris, 1822), vii. 67; Monthly Review, lxxi. 35; Quarterly Review, ix. 125; Biog. Universelle (Michaud); Notes and Queries, 3rd ser. i. 169; London and Dublin Orthodox Journal, i. 67; Byron's Don Juan, canto i. stanza xi.; Rogers's Table-talk, p. 42; Gent. Mag. vol. lxxxi. pt. i. p. 281, vol. xc. pt. i. p. 87.]