American writer and psychologist, born 22 October 1920 in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, died 31 May 1996 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Most famous for his advocacy of the therapeutic and spiritual benefits of LSD. His most significant recording was the 1967 album Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out (a phrase coined by Dr Leary) - ostensibly a user manual for a self-guided LSD trip.

After his death in 1996, he was cremated, and his remains were distributed amongst his friends and family. On 21 April 1997, seven grams of the ashes were shot into space contained in a rocket, along with the ashes of other notable individuals. It remained in orbit for six years, at which point it burned up into the atmosphere.