John E.W. Keely

John E.W. Keely (born Sept. 3, 1827—died Nov. 18, 1898, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.) was a fraudulent American inventor. Keely was orphaned in early childhood. He is said to have been an orchestra leader, a circus performer, and a carpenter. In 1873 he announced that he had discovered a new physical force, one that, if harnessed, would produce unheard-of power. He claimed, for example, to be able to produce from a quart of water enough fuel...