Charles Fort

Date of Birth: August 6, 1874

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: May 3, 1932

Biography

Charles Hoy Fort was an American writer and researcher who, during his lifetime, amassed a vast collection of notes on phenomena that were largely ignored, ridiculed, or unexplained by mainstream science. Born on August 6, 1874, in Albany, New York, Fort grew up with a deep curiosity about the natural world and the mysteries it held. Throughout his career, he published four notable books: “The Book of the Damned” (1919), “New Lands” (1923), “Lo!” (1931), and “Wild Talents” (1932). These works focused on anomalous phenomena, including UFOs, strange weather patterns, and other unexplained events. Fort’s approach was to catalog these occurrences and present them in a way that questioned the rigidity of scientific dogma. Fort’s work laid the foundation for what would later become known as Fortean phenomena and influenced generations of researchers, writers, and enthusiasts interested in the unexplained. He passed away on May 3, 1932, in Bronx, New York, but his legacy continues to thrive through the ongoing interest in Fortean studies and the work of organizations like the Fortean Society, founded by his friends and admirers.

5 Interesting Facts about Charles Fort

1. Charles Fort collected over 60,000 notes on unexplained phenomena during his lifetime.

2. His first book, “The Book of the Damned,” coined the term “damned data” to describe facts ignored by mainstream science.

3. Fort was known for his skepticism of scientific orthodoxy and often criticized the scientific community for its dogmatic approach.

4. The Fortean Society, dedicated to his work and ideas, was founded by his friend Tiffany Thayer in 1931.

5. Despite his extensive research, Fort only published four books, but his notes and ideas have been the basis for numerous other works and studies.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Charles Fort

1. “The Earth is a farm. We are someone else’s property.”

2. “I am a collector of notes upon subjects that have diversity and suggestiveness.”

3. “I believe nothing of my own that I have ever written.”

4. “One measures a circle, beginning anywhere.”

5. “Science is a butchery of beautiful hypotheses by ugly facts.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Charles Fort did not achieve significant financial success from his work, and his highest net worth is not well-documented. His influence and legacy, however, have been invaluable to the field of anomalous phenomena.