Hereward Hubert Lavington Carrington (1880–1958) remains a towering yet enigmatic figure in the annals of psychical research. Born on October 17, 1880, in St. Helier, Jersey, Carrington's life was a curious blend of rigorous scientific inquiry, unyielding scepticism, and a genuine fascination with the mysteries that lay beyond the veil of the known. Over the course of his career, Carrington explored the elusive realms of mediumship, poltergeists, out-of-body experiences, and the supposed life force that many claimed linked the physical world with the spiritual. His investigations were marked by a rare combination of scepticism and belief, driven by a deep-seated need to understand the truth behind the phenomena that defied conventional explanation.
Carrington's journey into the world of the paranormal began in his formative years. His family relocated to London and Kent, where he received his education, and it was here that he first encountered books on psychical research. These early readings ignited a spark in the young Carrington, leading him to join the Society for Psychical Research (SPR) in 1899 at the tender age of nineteen. His early foray into this field was characterised by an insatiable curiosity and a drive to understand phenomena that science had yet to explain.
In 1888, Carrington visited the United States, a country that would later become his home and the epicentre of his life's work. By 1904, he had settled in New York City, working as an assistant editor for Street and Smith magazines. But his true passion lay elsewhere—in the world of psychical research, where the boundaries between reality and the supernatural blurred. This fascination with the paranormal was not just an academic pursuit; it was a calling that would define his life and career.
Carrington's early work was influenced by the growing interest in spiritualism during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The world was in the throes of a spiritualist movement, where séances, spirit communication, and mediumship were gaining popularity. Yet, Carrington approached this world with a cautious scepticism, honed by his extensive knowledge of conjuring. This knowledge would serve him well in his investigations, allowing him to discern fraudulent practices from genuine phenomena.
One of Carrington's most significant contributions to psychical research was his involvement in the investigation of the famous medium Eusapia Palladino. Palladino was an Italian medium who had gained notoriety for her physical manifestations during séances—table levitations, object movements, and mysterious touches from unseen hands. However, her credibility was in question due to numerous instances of fraud during her séances.
In 1908, Carrington, alongside Everard Feilding and WW Baggally, embarked on an investigation of Palladino in Naples, Italy. The trio conducted a series of séances in a hotel room, meticulously controlling the conditions to prevent any possibility of trickery. Despite their precautions, Palladino produced phenomena that left the investigators baffled. While they caught her cheating on several occasions, they also witnessed events that could not be easily explained away as mere sleight of hand.
The Naples investigation became a defining moment in Carrington's career. Unlike the earlier 1895 investigation of Palladino, which had dismissed her as a fraud, Carrington and his colleagues concluded that at least some of the phenomena were genuine. Carrington suggested that these manifestations might be the result of a natural "life force" or "vital energy" emanating from the spiritual realm. This force, he hypothesised, could be harnessed by certain individuals to produce physical effects in the material world.
Carrington's theory of a life force was not just confined to mediumship. He believed that this energy could also explain other paranormal phenomena, such as psychic healing, telepathy, and even the continuation of life after death. His ideas were revolutionary at the time, bridging the gap between science and the supernatural. However, his openness to the possibility of genuine paranormal phenomena also made him a target for sceptics, who questioned his ability to remain impartial.
Carrington's scepticism was evident in his 1920 book, The Physical Phenomena of Spiritualism, Fraudulent and Genuine. In this work, he meticulously documented the tricks employed by fraudulent mediums to deceive their audiences. He exposed the methods used by well-known mediums like Henry Slade, the Eddy brothers, and William Eglinton, revealing how they manipulated their audiences and even fooled scientists and spiritualists. However, Carrington did not dismiss all mediums as frauds. He devoted a section of his book to those he believed were genuine, such as DD Home, William Stainton Moses, and, of course, Eusapia Palladino.
Carrington's investigation of Palladino did not end with the Naples séances. In 1910, he acted as her manager during a tour of American cities, hoping to introduce her to a wider audience. However, this venture backfired, as Palladino's reputation was further tarnished by accusations of cheating. The tour ultimately damaged both Palladino's career and Carrington's credibility, as sceptics questioned his judgement and impartiality.
Despite these setbacks, Carrington continued his work in psychical research, expanding his investigations to include other mediums and phenomena. One of his most notable investigations was that of Mina Crandon, better known as Margery. Crandon was a Boston medium who gained fame in the 1920s for her séances, which allegedly produced physical manifestations and communications from the spirit world. Carrington, along with a committee that included the famous magician Harry Houdini, was tasked with determining the authenticity of her powers.
The investigation into Margery's mediumship was fraught with controversy. The committee was divided, with Carrington being one of the few members who believed in the genuineness of her phenomena. However, rumours of an affair between Carrington and Margery, as well as his borrowing a large sum of money from her, cast a shadow over his judgement. Critics argued that his personal involvement with Margery compromised his objectivity, leading him to overlook possible instances of fraud.
Carrington's personal life was as complex as his professional one. His relationships with the mediums he investigated often blurred the lines between professional detachment and personal involvement. This was evident in his dealings with Margery, as well as with other mediums like Eileen Garrett, with whom he conducted experiments in the 1930s. Garrett was an Irish clairvoyant medium who claimed to channel an entity named "Uvani." Carrington's experiments aimed to determine whether Uvani was a separate entity or a creation of Garrett's subconscious. The results were inconclusive, but Carrington remained convinced of Garrett's abilities, even as she herself expressed doubts.
Throughout his career, Carrington maintained a delicate balance between belief and scepticism. He was a man who wanted to believe in the paranormal but was not willing to do so without rigorous investigation. This duality made him a unique figure in the world of psychical research, respected by some and criticised by others.
In addition to his work with mediums, Carrington also explored other areas of the paranormal. He collaborated with Sylvan Muldoon on two books about out-of-body experiences, or "astral projection," a phenomenon Muldoon claimed to experience regularly. Their second book, *The Phenomena of Astral Projection*, became a classic in the field, further cementing Carrington's reputation as a serious investigator of the paranormal.
Carrington's interest in the paranormal extended beyond mediumship and out-of-body experiences. He was also fascinated by the idea of psychic healing, which he believed could be explained by the transmission of vital energy from one organism to another. This belief was closely tied to his advocacy of alternative health treatments, such as fasting and vegetarianism. Carrington was a strong proponent of the fruitarian diet, which he believed could enhance a person's physical and mental well-being, as well as their psychic abilities.
In 1921, Carrington founded the American Psychical Institute and Laboratory in New York City, one of the first institutions dedicated to the scientific investigation of psychical phenomena. The institute operated for only two years before closing, but Carrington revived it in 1933 with the help of his wife, Marie Carrington. The institute attracted notable members, including Canadian political leader William Lyon Mackenzie King, who joined under the pseudonym "M. K. Venice."
Carrington's work at the institute included a wide range of investigations into paranormal phenomena. In 1935, he and Nandor Fodor released a bulletin titled Historic Poltergeists, which later became the basis for their book Haunted People, published in 1951. The book explored various cases of poltergeist activity, offering both sceptical and believer perspectives on the phenomena.
Carrington's investigations were not limited to famous mediums and high-profile cases. He also visited the Lily Dale Assembly, a spiritualist camp in New York, where he conducted a series of tests on the resident mediums. His conclusion was damning: he found that all seventeen mediums he tested were fraudulent. This experience reinforced his belief that while genuine paranormal phenomena might exist, they were often overshadowed by the actions of charlatans and frauds.
Despite his many contributions to psychical research, Carrington was not immune to criticism. Sceptics often questioned his objectivity, particularly in cases where he seemed too willing to believe in the phenomena he investigated. His personal relationships with some of the mediums he studied further complicated his reputation, leading to accusations of bias and unprofessionalism.
One of the most enduring controversies surrounding Carrington was his relationship with Eusapia Palladino. While Carrington was convinced of her abilities, many others were not. Critics pointed to the numerous instances of fraud during her séances, as well as the possibility that she had used secret accomplices to produce some of the phenomena. Some even suggested that Carrington himself might have been complicit in her deceptions, although there is no concrete evidence to support this claim.
Despite these controversies, Carrington's contributions to psychical research were significant. He was a pioneering investigator who approached the paranormal with both scepticism and an open mind. His work laid the groundwork for future research in the field, and his writings continue to be studied and debated by researchers and enthusiasts alike.
Carrington passed away on December 23, 1958, leaving behind a legacy of both triumphs and controversies. His extensive collection of writings and correspondence, held in the Princeton University library, serves as a testament to his enduring influence on the field of psychical research.
In the end, Hereward Carrington was a man who sought to understand the mysteries of the paranormal with a blend of scepticism and belief. His life was a testament to the complexities of investigating phenomena that lie at the boundaries of human knowledge. Whether one views him as a visionary or a dupe, his contributions to the field remain a significant part of the ongoing exploration of the unknown.
To listen and discover more about some of the mediums Hereward Carrington investigated you can click on the links below:
