Cagliostro, Alessandro, Count of, (real name GIUSEPPE BALSAMO), a celebrated charlatan; born in Palermo, Italy, June 8, 1743. The discovery of the philosopher's stone, the preparation of a precious elixir vitæ, etc., were the pretenses by means of which he extracted considerable sums from credulous people. Died in 1795.
Entry from Everybody's Cyclopedia, 1912.