| Entry Type | Person |
| Surname | Darwin |
| Forenames | Erasmus |
| Title | Dr |
| Epithet | physician, natural philosopher, physiologist, slave-trade abolitionist, inventor and poet |
| Dates | 1731-1802 |
| Gender Identity | Male |
| Biography | Erasmus Darwin one of the key thinkers of the Midlands Enlightenment and was a prominent figure in the Lunar Society.
A leading polymath in the Enlightenment Movement of the 18th century and grandfather of naturalist Charles Darwin and biologist Sir Francis Galton. Erasmus was born at Elston Hall in Nottinghamshire. After attending Chesterfield Grammar school he studied mathematics and classics at Cambridge followed by medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Subsequently he travelled around the Midlands as a physician having his main practice at Lichfield and gained fame for cures which brought him to the attention of George 3rd who offered him a position as Royal physician which Darwin refused.
Darwin was involved in the Lunar Society and the Derby Philosophical Society and had many interests including inventions, physiology, botany and poetry. He held controversial views e.g. he challenged the biblical view of creation, encouraged the education of women, advocated republicanism and promoted the abolition of slavery. He married Mary Howard in 1757 and Elizabeth Pole of Radbourne Hall in 1782.
Shortly after moving to Breadsall Priory in 1802 he died following a period of ill health, the treatment of which he recorded in his letters. He is buried in All Saints Breadsall. |
| Place of Birth | Elston Hall, Nottinghamshire |
| Key Events | 1731 Newark on Trent, Nottinghamshire
1802 Died at Breadsall Priory. Buried at Breadsall parish church |
| Family Tree | Grandfather of Charles Darwin (1809-1882), naturalist |
| Address | Radbourne Hall, Radbourne (1781-1782)
Full Street, Derby (1782-1802)
Breadsall Priory (1802) |
| Source | 'Erasmus Darwin', Wikipedia entry, retrieved 22/01/2021 |
| Authorised Form of Name | Darwin; Erasmus (1731-1802); Dr; physician, natural philosopher, physiologist, slave-trade abolitionist, inventor and poet |
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