Adam Weishaupt was a German philosopher and professor born in 1748, best known for founding the secret society called the Bavarian Illuminati in 1776. He aimed to promote Enlightenment ideals, such as reason and secularism, and sought to influence political decisions through his organization. Weishaupt believed that society could be improved by educating its members and encouraging rational thought. The Illuminati attracted various intellectuals and influential figures of the time, but it was often misunderstood and surrounded by conspiracy theories. Weishaupt's group was eventually suppressed by the Bavarian government in the late 1780s, leading to its decline and the rise of myths surrounding its legacy.