Timothy Francis Leary Biography

Once called the ‘Most Dangerous Man in America’ by President Richard Nixon, Timothy Leary was a Harvard University lecturer and a psychologist who advocated the use of psychedelic drugs for therapeutic use. A highly intelligent man, he was rebellious by nature and believed in questioning authority instead of meekly giving in. His fascination with psychedelic drugs began after he consumed psilocybin mushrooms in Mexico, which have a psychedelic effect on the human brain. He started conducting experiments on the effects of psychedelic drugs on human subjects in Harvard University, an act which led to his dismissal from the job. Soon he became a passionate advocate of these drugs and even founded The League for Spiritual Discovery, a religious organization that regarded LSD as its holy sacrament. His activities led to a slew of criticisms and legal charges which in turn led to his arrests and imprisonments. Even though he was very notorious for his work with drugs, he had his own fan following mainly consisting of rebellious teenagers; his lectures advocating drug use were a rage among the college students. A prolific writer, he also has several published works to his name. His notoriety made him a celebrity of sorts, and he was often invited to Hollywood parties.