Alchemy

Some famous alchemists include Sir Isaac Newton, Francis Bacon, and Nicolas Flammel.  It is rumored that both Flammel and his wife used the stone and faked their deaths, no bodies being found in the graves. 

Fammel aslo during his life in France gave many gifts of gold to the church.

Francis Bacon an alledged writer known as Shakespeare, also is alledged to have faked his own death and shown up at the funeral.  Sir Isaac Newton on the other hand is recorded as never having achieved the stone.

For more information on alchemy see:

http://www.infobarrel.com/What_is_Alchemy_but_the_Music_of_the_Spheres_an_Octave_Science