Erasmus Darwin

Erasmus Robert Darwin (12 December 1731 – 18 April 1802) was an English polymath active as a physician, physiologist, botanist, biologist, physicist, metaphysician, inventor and poet who is commonly associated with the Midlands Enlightenment in addition to British abolitionism.

His poems included much natural history, including a statement of evolution and the relatedness of all forms of life.

He was a member of the Darwin–Wedgwood family, which includes his grandsons Charles Darwin and Francis Galton. Darwin was a founding member of the Lunar Society of Birmingham, a discussion group of pioneering industrialists and natural philosophers.

He turned down an invitation from George III to become Physician to the King.

Early life and education

Darwin was born in 1731 at Elston Hall, Nottinghamshire, near Newark-on-Trent, England, the youngest of seven children of Robert Darwin of Elston (1682–1754), a lawyer and physician, and his wife Elizabeth Hill (1702–97). The name Erasmus had been used by a number of his family and derives from his ancestor Erasmus Earle, Common Sergent of England under Oliver Cromwell. His siblings were:

Robert Waring Darwin of Elston (17 October 1724 – 4 November 1816)

Elizabeth Darwin (15 September 1725 – 8 April 1800)

William Alvey Darwin (3 October 1726 – 7 October 1783)

Anne Darwin (12 November 1727 – 3 August 1813)

Susannah Darwin (10 April 1729 – 29 September 1789)

Rev. John Darwin, rector of Elston (28 September 1730 – 24 May 1805)

He was educated at Chesterfield Grammar School, then later at St John's College, Cambridge. He obtained his medical education at the University of Edinburgh Medical School.