George Psalmanazar

George Psalmanazar
George Psalmanazar (1679–1763)
Born	c. 1679–1684 South France
Died	(1763-05-03)3 May 1763 (aged 78–84) Ironmonger Row, London, England
Occupation(s)	Memoirist, imposter
Known for	Formosan culture memoir hoax

George Psalmanazar (c. 1679 – 3 May 1763) was a Frenchman who claimed to be the first native of Formosa (today Taiwan) to visit Europe. For some years, he convinced many in Britain; however, he was eventually revealed to be of European origin. He subsequently became a theological essayist, and a friend and acquaintance of Samuel Johnson and other noted figures in 18th-century literary London.