Eliphas Levi (1810-1875)
Eliphas Levi is the pseudonym of Alphonse Louis Constant, a French occultist and author whose work greatly influenced many of the occult revivalists of the 19th century. He was born in Paris in 1810, the son of a shoe maker. Until his death, Levi made his living from his occult writings and lessons. He was popular and had a cult of followers, some of them were inspired to write their own books.
Much of Levi's magic was later adopted by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Aleister Crowley, who was born the year that Levi died, claimed he was the reincarnation of Levi.