Born October 22, 1920
Springfield, Massachusetts

Died May 31, 1996
Beverly Hills, California

Psychologist, philosopher, teacher,
writer, lecturer, LSD advocate

Timothy Leary. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

Timothy Leary, a psychologist and former Harvard University professor, was one of the most controversial figures on the American countercultural or anti-authoritarian scene during the 1960s. He led experimentation with hallucinogenic, or mind-altering, drugs. He advocated the use of such drugs as consciousness-raising tools—a way to open people's minds to new ways of viewing reality. Leary urged a new generation of Americans to "turn on, tune in, [and] drop out," in a 1966 interview in Playboy magazine.

A Rebellious Soul

Timothy Leary was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on October 22, 1920. Between 1938 and 1943 he attended Holy Cross College, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and the University of Alabama. During Leary's college years, his rebellious spirit was stirred as he realized...