James Rogers Newton (1810-1883) was born and died in Newport, Rhode Island. He was a wealthy merchant who believed he possessed the power to heal since he was a child. In 1858, Newton established his "magnetic healing" practice in Cincinnati, Ohio. A few years later, he returned to Newport and continued his practice, performing public healings in front of crowds in the United States, England, and France. Although many of his patients attested to his ability to heal, his work was not well regarded by traditional medical and religious communities.

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