Darwin, Erasmus, 1731–1802, English physician and poet. During most of his life he practiced medicine in Lichfield and cultivated a botanical garden. He was a prominent member of the Lichfield literary group, which included Anna Seward Seward, Anna (sē`wərd), 1742–1809, English poet, called the Swan of Lichfield.
..... Click the link for more information. and Thomas Day Day, Thomas, 1748–89, English social reformer and author. He supported the American Revolution and the abolition of slavery and was interested in improving the lot of the small farmer. His moralistic History of Sandford and Merton (3 vol.
..... Click the link for more information. . In a long poem, The Botanic Garden (1789–91), Darwin expounded the botanical system of Linnaeus Linnaeus, Carolus (kärō`ləs lĭnā`əs)
..... Click the link for more information. . His Zoonomia (1794–96), explaining organic life according to evolutionary principles, anticipates later theories. He was the grandfather of Charles Darwin Darwin, Charles Robert, 1809–82, English naturalist, b. Shrewsbury; grandson of Erasmus Darwin and of Josiah Wedgwood . He firmly established the theory of organic evolution known as Darwinism .
..... Click the link for more information. and of Francis Galton Galton, Sir Francis (gôl`tən), 1822–1911, English scientist, founder of eugenics; cousin of Charles Darwin .
..... Click the link for more information. .

Bibliography

See biography by D. King-Hele (1964).

Darwin, Erasmus

Erasmus Darwin, detail of an oil painting by Joseph Wright, 1770; in the National Portrait Gallery, …

(credit: Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London)

(born Dec. 12, 1731, Elston Hall, Nottinghamshire, Eng.—died April 18, 1802, Derby, Derbyshire) British physician, grandfather of Charles Darwin and Francis Galton. A freethinker and radical, Darwin often wrote his opinions and scientific treatises in verse. In Zoonomia; or, The Laws of Organic Life (1794–96), he advanced a theory of evolution similar to that of Lamarck, suggesting that species modified themselves by adapting to their environment in an intentional way. His conclusions, drawn from simple observation, were rejected by the more sophisticated 19th-century scientists, including his grandson Charles.