Erasmus Darwin

**Biographical Details**:
– Erasmus Darwin was born in 1731 at Elston Hall, Nottinghamshire, England.
– He was the youngest of seven children and received his education at Chesterfield Grammar School and St Johns College, Cambridge.
– Darwin obtained his medical education at the University of Edinburgh Medical School and settled as a physician in Nottingham in 1756, later moving to Lichfield.
– He married twice, had 14 children, and was a member of the Freemasons throughout his life.
– Darwin died suddenly in 1802 at Breadsall Priory, possibly due to inflammation in his breast and lungs.

**Literary and Scientific Contributions**:
– Darwin formed a Botanical Society in Lichfield and translated Carl Linnaeus’ works into English.
– He wrote influential works like ‘The Loves of the Plants’ and ‘Economy of Vegetation’ and advocated for better education for women.
– Darwin’s work anticipated evolutionary ideas later developed by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and his grandson, Charles Darwin.
– His poetry, particularly ‘The Loves of the Plants’ and ‘The Temple of Nature,’ integrated scientific interests like botany and cosmology.

**Inventions and Innovations**:
– Darwin invented various technologies, including a horizontal windmill, a stable carriage, and the Ackermann linkage steering mechanism.
– He also designed a speaking machine, a canal lift for barges, and weather monitoring devices.
– In 1779, Darwin sketched a visionary hydrogen-oxygen rocket engine, laying the foundation for future developments in rocketry.

**Social and Intellectual Circles**:
– Darwin was part of the Lunar Society, which included influential figures like Josiah Wedgwood and James Watt.
– Members of the Lunar Society opposed the slave trade and supported social causes.
– Darwin’s friendships with Benjamin Franklin and his opposition to the slave trade in his works reflected his involvement in social and intellectual endeavors.

**Legacy and Commemoration**:
– Erasmus Darwin House in Lichfield, Erasmus Darwin Academy in Burntwood, and a science building at Nottingham Trent University bear his name.
– Darwin’s significant contributions to science, literature, and societal progress are commemorated in various locations.
– The tributes ensure that Darwin’s legacy continues to inspire future generations and his work remains influential in multiple fields.

Erasmus Darwin (Wikipedia)

This article is about Erasmus Darwin, who lived 1731–1802. For his descendants with the same name, see Erasmus Darwin (disambiguation).

Erasmus Robert Darwin FRS (12 December 1731 – 18 April 1802) was an English physician. One of the key thinkers of the Midlands Enlightenment, he was also a natural philosopher, physiologist, slave-trade abolitionist, inventor, and poet.

Erasmus Darwin FRS
Erasmus Darwin c. 1792–1793, oil painting by Joseph Wright of Derby, Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Born	Erasmus Robert Darwin (1731-12-12)12 December 1731 Elston Hall, Elston, Nottinghamshire near Newark-on-Trent, England
Died	18 April 1802(1802-04-18) (aged 70) Breadsall, Derby, England
Resting place	All Saints Church, Breadsall
Alma mater	St John's College, Cambridge University of Edinburgh Medical School
Children	14
Parents	Robert Darwin of Elston Elizabeth Hill
Relatives	See Darwin–Wedgwood family

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.