Ignatius Donnelly

Ignatius Donnelly (also spelled Ignatius Donelly) (November 3, 1831 - January 1, 1901) was an American congressman who is noted primarily for his theories on the history of Atlantis and Shakespearean authorship.

He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1852. He moved to Minnesota in 1857 and was Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota from 1859-1863. He was Republican Congressman from Minnesota in the 38th, 39th and 40th Congresses (1863-1868), and state Senator from 1874-1878.

He was nominated for Vice-President of the United States by the People's Party in 1892.

His books include Atlantis: The Antediluvian World (1882), in which he attempted to establish that all known ancient civilizations were descended from its high-neolithic culture, and The Great Cryptogram, in which he maintained he had discovered codes in the works of Shakespeare which indicated that their true author was Francis Bacon.

He died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is buried in Calvary Cemetery, St. Paul, Minnesota.