# Von Kempelen — Short Fiction character guide

> Von Kempelen in Short Fiction by Edgar Allan Poe.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** the now immortal Von Kempelen, Kempelen

**First appearance:** 0067-von-kempelen-and-his-discovery

## Who they are

Inventor who allegedly discovers the secret of transmuting lead into gold.

## Relationships

### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_14_se/characters/unknown_narrator)

_professional_

The narrator investigates and reports on Von Kempelen's alleged discovery of a method to turn lead into gold.

## In the story

### [Von Kempelen and His Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_14_se/chapters/von-kempelen-and-his-discovery)

The now-immortal inventor of the transmutation process; described as short, stout, with blue eyes and a Roman nose, born in Utica, New York, of Presburg descent; arrested on suspicion of forgery but found with chemical apparatus and a trunk of gold-like metal.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_14_se/characters/von_kempelen
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_14_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_14_se/characters