Gerald Gardner, a British civil servant and amateur anthropologist, is widely recognized as the father of modern witchcraft. Born in 1884, Gardner developed an interest in the occult and folklore during his travels around the world. In the 1930s, he became involved with a group of people who claimed to be practicing traditional witchcraft, and he eventually became their leader. Gardner published several books on witchcraft, including "Witchcraft Today" (1954) and "The Meaning of Witchcraft" (1959), which helped to popularize the practice and establish it as a legitimate religion. His work had a profound impact on the development of modern witchcraft, and his legacy continues to inspire and influence practitioners around the world.
