Erasmus Darwin

Matthew J. A. Green (University of Nottingham)
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An accomplished physician, botanist, zoologist, geologist, inventor and poet, Erasmus Darwin occupied a central position in the intellectual life of Britain throughout the latter half of the eighteenth century. Perhaps best remembered today as the grandfather of Charles Darwin, in his own day Erasmus was an eminent figure whose interests and influence extended into almost all areas of public life. A founding member of the Lunar Society of Birmingham, England, Darwin was at the heart of both the Midlands Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. A long-time friend of Benjamin Franklin and cordial acquaintance of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Darwin was a public, though jurisprudent, supporter of the American and French Revolutions, whilst his renown as a physician led George III to request his…

2630 words

Citation: J. A. Green, Matthew. "Erasmus Darwin". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 03 March 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1138, accessed 19 March 2024.]

1138 Erasmus Darwin 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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