Person    | Male  Born 5/8/1862  Died 11/4/1890

Joseph Merrick / John Merrick

Categories: Medicine

"The Elephant Man". Born Leicester. Began to develop severe abnormalities within a few years. By aged 17 his mother had died, his father and step-mother had rejected him, and failing to find a job, he entered the Leicester Union workhouse. After 4 years there Merrick contacted a showman with a business proposition: that the showman should exhibit Merrick. They toured the East Midlands and then came to London where the show took place in Whitechapel Road immediately opposite the London Hospital.

Frederick Treves, a surgeon from the Hospital visited the show and invited Merrick to the hospital to be examined and photographed. Merrick's show then went to Brussels where his road manager robbed and abandoned him. With great difficulty he made his way back to London and made contact with Treves who invited him to stay at the Hospital, where he stayed for the rest of his life, which was relatively comfortable and happy.

2018: Londonist tells us that, now the Royal London Hospital, there is a small museum there which includes information on Merrick.

2019: On his death Merrick's skeleton was preserved at the London Hospital but his soft tissue was buried.  The cemetery and the exact plot have now been identified.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Joseph Merrick / John Merrick

Commemorated ati

Mile End mural

Murals are often rather fun puzzles so do have a go identifying what you can ...

Read More

Other Subjects

Sister Dorothy Louise Thomas, GC

Sister Dorothy Louise Thomas, GC

Nurse.  Born East London, died Chelmsford. From Stephen's Study Room: "At the time of her EGM award she was a Nursing Sister at the Middlesex Hospital {Foley Street}, London.  On the 26 January 19...

Person, Medicine

1 memorial
T. E. Walsby

T. E. Walsby

District Staff Officer in the St John Ambulance Brigade, No. 1 District, 1915-1948. Officer in the Order of St John.

Person, Emergency Services, Medicine, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Jessie Craigen

Jessie Craigen

Jessie Hannah Craigen was a working-class suffrage speaker. She was also a freelance (or 'paid agent') speaker in the campaigns for Irish Home Rule and the cooperative movement and against vivisect...

Person, Animals, Gender Issues, Medicine, Ireland

1 memorial
J. F. Rumball

J. F. Rumball

Corps Officer in the St John Ambulance Brigade, Metropolitan Corps, 1887-1889.

Person, Emergency Services, Medicine, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Royal Free Hospital

Royal Free Hospital

Founded by William Marsden as the London General Institution for the Gratuitous Cure of Malignant Diseases on 17th April 1828 in a rented 4-storey house at 16 Greville Street, Hatton Garden. Septem...

Group, Medicine

6 memorials

Previously viewed

L. Herod
War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Humphry

Humphry

A cat who lived at nearby Mary Ward House for 18 years. A ginger tom, he was named after the husband of Mary Ward, Humphry Ward (1845 – 1926).

Animal, Animals

1 memorial