Needless to say, there are dozens of sad facts about the man and his life to choose from, but here are 10 of the saddest. [96][97], There is a small museum dedicated to his life, housing some of his personal effects, and a new replica of his skeleton went on display in 2012. Although some nurses were initially upset by his appearance, they overcame this and cared for him. [80] Other ladies and gentlemen of high society did visit him however, bringing gifts of photographs and books. An author in London claims to have tracked down the grave of Joseph Merrick, the 19th century Londoner known as the Elephant Man because of his physical deformities. [66] With the financial backing of the many donors, Gomm was able to make a convincing case to the committee for keeping Merrick in the hospital. He pointed out inconsistencies between the accounts and sometimes disputed Treves's version of events; he noted, for example, that while Treves claimed Merrick knew nothing of his mother's appearance, Carr Gomm refers to Merrick carrying a painting of his mother with him,[127] and he criticised Treves's assumption that Merrick's mother was "worthless and inhuman". The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. [120] In the handwritten manuscript for The Elephant Man and Other Reminiscences, Treves began his account by writing "Joseph" and then crossed it out and replaced it with "John". He was not eligible to enter a workhouse in London for more than one night and would be accepted only by Leicester Union, where he was a permanent resident. [18] The concept of maternal impression—that the emotional experiences of pregnant women could have lasting physical effect on their unborn children—was still common in 19th-century Britain. She claims the detail contained in the Victorian burial records make it “99 per cent” the grave is that of Merrick and that it’s “too much to be a coincidence". He had no outward anatomical signs of, and no symptoms of any disorder for the first few years of his life. [70] It did not take Treves long to realise that, contrary to his initial impressions, Merrick was not intellectually impaired. [22] She was a Sunday school teacher, and his father worked as an engine driver at a cotton factory, as well as running a haberdashery business. [81], On 21 May 1887, two new buildings were completed at the hospital and the Prince and Princess of Wales came to open them officially. Most of Joseph Merrick’s life sucked. [71] At times, Merrick was bored and lonely, and demonstrated signs of depression. [95] His mounted skeleton at the medical school is not on public display. Although Treves states that Merrick's outfit on this occasion included the black cloak and brown cap, there is evidence to suggest that Merrick acquired this particular costume a year later, while travelling with Sam Roper's Fair. [87] He stayed at the gamekeeper's cottage and spent the days walking in the estate's woods, collecting wild flowers. The Real and Imagined History of the Elephant Man premiered on 4 August, and starred Daniel Monks in the title role. [115] The possibility that Merrick had both conditions formed the basis for a 2003 documentary film entitled The Curse of The Elephant Man, which was produced for the Discovery Health Channel by Natural History New Zealand. Howell and Ford brought to light a large amount of new information about Merrick. His mother died when he was eleven[1] and his father soon remarried. [44] She kept in contact with him and a letter written by Merrick to her, thanking her for the gift of a book and a brace of grouse, is the only surviving letter written by Merrick. THE grave of 'Elephant Man' Joseph Merrick has been found nearly 130 years after he died, his biographer has claimed. He then moved to London where he was exhibited at a shop on Whitechapel Road which was rented by showman Tom Norman. [59], Merrick arrived at Liverpool Street Station on 24 June 1886, safely back in his own country, but with nowhere to go. But blaming me is blaming God; In 2020, The Elephant Man: A New Musical was released, with book/lyrics by Jai Sepple and music/lyrics by Christopher Weeks. Without a meeting, Norman agreed to take over Merrick's management and in November, Hitchcock travelled with Merrick to London. [84] Treves, with the help of Madge Kendal, arranged for him to attend the Christmas pantomime at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. From the age of 13, he was a society reject and these photographs show his actual skeleton, together with … In response to the appeal, a Leicester resident named Pat Selby was discovered to be the granddaughter of Merrick's uncle George Potterton. There were bone deformities in the right arm, both legs, and, most conspicuously, in the large skull. [42] The shop on Whitechapel Road was directly across the road from the London Hospital, an excellent location, as medical students and doctors visited the shop, curious to see Merrick. [45] To enable him to travel the short distance without drawing undue attention, Merrick wore a costume consisting of an oversized black cloak and a brown cap with a hessian sack covering his face, and rode in a cab hired by Treves. Click here to upload yours. [44], On at least one occasion, Merrick was able to fulfil a long-held desire to visit the theatre. Treves sat with some nurses, concealed in Lady Burdett-Coutts' private box. What Was Wrong With Him? [29] On 22 March 1880, only 12 weeks after entering, Merrick signed himself out of the workhouse and spent two days looking for work. [68], Merrick settled into his new life at the London Hospital. This hypothesis was reported by Robert Matthews, a correspondent for The Sunday Telegraph. This biography, whether written by Merrick or not, provided a generally accurate account of his life. [27] With young children to provide for, Charles could no longer afford to support his nephew. [38] Merrick was able to put his share of the profits aside, hoping to earn enough to one day buy a home of his own. [43], Frederick Treves first met Merrick that November at a private viewing, before Norman opened the shop for the day. Joseph Merrick was originally thought to be suffering from elephantiasis. [54] Crocker wrote about Merrick's case in his 1888 book Diseases of the Skin: their Description, Pathology, Diagnosis and Treatment. In 1980, Michael Howell and Peter Ford published The True History of the Elephant Man, presenting the fruits of their detailed archival research. He also developed enlarged lips, an enlarged hand and enlarged feet. On returning home one day in 1877, he was severely beaten by his father and he left home for good. [138], In 2002, American heavy metal band Mastodon included an instrumental track, "Elephant Man", on their album Remission. In this he is not alone – life expectancy at his birth, in 1862, was around 40, and his brother died of scarlet fever aged four. Now, some 130 years following his death, Joseph Merrick’s remains are believed to have been rediscovered after years of displacement. Joseph Merrick, better known by his derogatory appellation, died aged 27 in 1890 after a life of touring in freak shows because of unusual condition. According to the BBC, Merrick’s skeleton was preserved at the Royal London Hospital as a scientific specimen after his death but his soft tissue had been buried elsewhere. [76] He met other women during his life at the hospital, and appeared taken with them all. [53], During this time in Victorian Britain, tastes were changing in regard to freak show exhibitions like the Elephant Man. [69], Treves observed that Merrick was very sensitive and showed his emotions easily. [121] Whatever the reason for the error, it is one that persisted throughout much of the 20th century; later biographers who based their work on Treves's book have continued the error. The book looks into the early life of Merrick and his family in Vigor-Mungovin's hometown of Leicester, with detailed information about Joseph's family and his ambition to be self-sufficient rather than survive on the charity of others. The shipping cost for the continental US is $350 Email us for pick-up, international or other shipping options and for shipping costs for multiple items in one order - info@thegeminicompany.com Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? [63] Merrick's general health improved over the next five months under the care of the hospital staff. Deformation of the jaws prevented him from showing facial expression and speaking clearly. Unable to make himself understood, his only identifying possession was Frederick Treves' card. [39] Drawing aside the curtain, he allowed the onlookers—often visibly horrified—to observe Merrick up close, while describing the circumstances leading to his present condition, including his mother's alleged accident with an elephant. News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. The grave where some of Joseph Merrick's remains were buried has been traced, an author claims. More than a century after his death in 1890, the skeleton of “Elephant Man” Joseph Merrick sits in a glass cabinet in a private room at Queen Mary University of … In late December 1879, now 17 years old, Merrick entered the Leicester Union Workhouse. [44] He measured Merrick's head circumference at the large size of 36 inches (91 cm), his right wrist at 12 inches (30 cm) and one of his fingers at 5 inches (13 cm) in circumference. Though the exact cause of his condition is not known, it is believed to be the result of a rare genetic disorder known as Proteus syndrome. [48] The subcutaneous tissue appeared to be weakened and caused a loosening of the skin, which in some areas hung away from the body. He rose each day in the afternoon and would leave his rooms to walk in the small adjacent courtyard, after dark. Gomm wrote a letter to The Times, printed on 4 December, outlining Merrick's case and asking readers for suggestions. [92][93] Treves, who performed an autopsy, said Merrick had died of a dislocated neck. Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . [127] However, Montagu also perpetuated some of the errors in Treves's work,[128] including his use of the name "John" rather than "Joseph".[127]. He made his way back to London, but unable to communicate, police found Dr Treves' card on him and he took Merrick back to the hospital with him, where Merrick would stay for the rest of his life. [2] In 1879, 17-year-old Merrick entered the Leicester Union Workhouse. [103] His appearance at the meeting of the Pathological Society of London in 1884 drew interest from the doctors present, but none of the answers nor the attention that Treves had hoped for. Norman observed Merrick asleep one morning and learnt that he always slept sitting up, with his legs drawn up and his head resting on his knees. In 1986 it was conjectured that he had Proteus syndrome. Merrick was admitted for bronchitis, washed, fed and put to bed in a small isolation room in the hospital's attic. Merrick’s skeleton has been preserved in the Royal London Hospital … Alex Veccaro and Rose Drew try to resolve the circumstances of what caused Merrick's (The Elephant Man) death. He entertained visits from Treves and his house surgeons. In 1923, Frederick Treves published a volume, The Elephant Man and Other Reminiscences, in which he detailed what he knew of Merrick's life and their personal interactions. IN THE ARCHIVES: Radium Girls Shrunken Heads Dissections Alberta the Dog Synthetic Cadavers Cobain and Depression Preserved Heavenly Bodies. You may recognise him as 'The Elephant Man'. The reason for this is unclear; Merrick clearly signed his name as "Joseph" in the examples of his handwriting that remain. A research team took DNA samples from Selby in an unsuccessful attempt to diagnose Merrick's condition. Recognising Merrick, Treves took him in a hansom cab to the London Hospital. Contemporary visual art reference in the work of Australian art Cameron Hayes. Joseph Merrick's skeleton is kept in a private room at Queen Mary University of London's medical school; The remains are not on display to … Treves visited him daily, and the pair developed a close friendship. I would not fail in pleasing you. They refuted some of the inaccuracies in Treves's account, showing that Merrick's mother had not abandoned him, and that Merrick deliberately chose to exhibit himself to make a living. After touring the East Midlands, Merrick travelled to London to be exhibited in a penny gaff shop rented by showman Tom Norman. [82] Princess Alexandra wished to meet the Elephant Man, so after a tour of the hospital, the royal party went to his rooms for an introduction. [33][34] He knew of a Leicester music hall comedian and proprietor named Sam Torr. [112] In fact, Proteus syndrome affects tissue other than nerves, and it is a sporadic disorder rather than a genetically transmitted disease. Motivated by the research for her recent biography of Merrick, Joseph: The Life, Times and Places of The Elephant Man (Mango Books, 2016), the writer has located in the cemetery of the City of London the place of burial of Merrick’s remains —except for his skeleton— which had been ignored for … In Brussels, Merrick was deserted by this new manager, who stole Merrick's £50 (2018 equivalent £5,400) savings. When he was discovered, he was always hurried back to his quarters by the nurses, who feared he might frighten the patients. The skull of Joseph Merrick, Victorian England's famous "Elephant Man." [67] He was moved from the attic to two rooms in the basement adjacent to a small courtyard. In 1923, Frederick Treves published a volume, The Elephant Man and Other Reminiscences, in which he detailed what he knew of Merrick's life and their personal interactions. [8] Mary Jane Potterton (c. 1837–1873) had been born at Evington, Leicestershire, her father being William Potterton, who was described as an agricultural labourer in the 1851 census of Thurmaston, Leicestershire. On their 2005 album Doppelgänger, American band The Fall Of Troy released a song titled "Whacko Jacko Steals the Elephant Man's Bones", the title referencing reports that Michael Jackson had attempted to buy the skeleton from London Hospital. '", He often said to me that he wished he could lie down to sleep 'like other people', An article was published anonymously in the. Treves also suspected that Merrick now suffered from a heart condition and had only a few years left to live. [7] On one of the visits, Treves had photographs taken, and he provided Merrick with a set of copies which were later added to his autobiographical pamphlet. Treves, in his earlier journal arti… [21], In addition to his deformities, at some point during his childhood, Merrick suffered a fall and damaged his left hip. "I was asked about this and off-hand I said 'It probably went to the same place as the Ripper victims', as they died in the same locality,” she said. But in Belgium, Merrick was robbed by his road manager and abandoned in Brussels. The skeleton of Joseph Merrick, ‘The Elephant Man’. [87] Through elaborate arrangements that allowed Merrick to board a train unseen and have an entire carriage to himself, he travelled to Northamptonshire to stay at Fawsley Hall, the estate of Lady Knightley. We pay for your stories! [44] At this point, Treves assumed the Elephant Man was an "imbecile". Joseph Merrick. [18][nb 1] As he grew, a noticeable difference between the size of his left and right arms appeared and both his feet became significantly enlarged. "The burial is dated 24 April 1890, and Joseph died on 11 April,” she said. ... Merrick’s skeleton … Merrick's life was depicted in a 1979 play by Bernard Pomerance, and a 1980 film by David Lynch, both titled The Elephant Man. Merrick wanted to know about the "real world", and questioned Treves on a number of topics. However, the results of these tests proved inconclusive; therefore, the precise cause of Merrick's medical condition remains uncertain.[116][117][119]. [108] Recently it has been found that this conjecture was wrong, in fact, symptoms that are always present in this genetic disorder include tumours of the nervous tissue and bones, small warty growths on the skin,[109] and the presence of light brown pigmentation on the skin called café au lait spots, which are of particular importance in diagnosing von Recklinghausen Disease;[110] these spots were never observed on Merrick's body. "[44] The viewing lasted no more than 15 minutes after which Treves returned to work. Merrick never completely confided in Treves about his early life, so these details were consequently sketchy in Treves's Reminiscences. Merrick also received visits from the wealthy ladies and gentlemen of London society, including Alexandra, Princess of Wales. Watch on Discovery UK Wed 23rd March at 9PM. [15] In his book The Elephant Man: A Study in Human Dignity, Ashley Montagu states that "John Thomas [sic] Merrick was born on 21 April 1864". I would be measured by the soul; —poem used by Joseph Merrick to end his letters, adapted from "False Greatness" by Isaac Watts[17], Some persons remarked on Merrick's strong Christian faith (Treves is also said to have been a Christian), and his strong character and courage in the face of afflictions earned him admiration. The meeting was short, as Merrick quickly became overcome with emotion. Joseph Carey Merrick (5 August 1862-11 April 1890 ), often erroneously called John Merrick, was an English man known for having severe deformities. A biographer for Joseph Merrick, better known as “The Elephant Man,” believes that she has discovered the infamously deformed man’s remains 130 years after his death in an east London hospital.. It premiered on 7 February 2002 at the State Opera House, Prague, and starred contralto Jana Sykorova in the title role. [11] The Merricks had two more children, not three as stated on his mother's grave. ... Merrick's body was dissected and his skeleton preserved as an anatomical specimen. [57] Abandoned, Merrick made his way by train to Ostend, where he attempted to board a ferry for Dover but was refused passage. When Joseph Merrick – known as the Elephant Man because of his unusual deformity – died in 1890, his flesh was scraped from his bones and his skeleton was put on … [47], The dampening of public enthusiasm for freak shows and human oddities continued, and the police and magistrates became increasingly vigilant in closing down shows. Treves, in his earlier journal articles as well as his book, insisted on calling him John Merrick. In the first few years of life Merrick developed severe face and body deformities which saw him become a freak show attraction, then a curiosity for doctors. [104] Four months later, in 1885, Treves brought the case before the meeting for a second time. [122][123] In a letter to the World's Fair newspaper, and later in his own memoirs, Norman denied this characterisation and said he provided his show attractions with a way of earning a living, and that at the London Hospital Merrick was still on display, but with no control over how or when he was viewed. [32], Merrick concluded that his only escape from the workhouse might be through the world of human novelty exhibitions. By then, Tom Norman's shop on Whitechapel Road had been closed, and the Elephant Man had moved on. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. [69] Now that Merrick had found someone who understood his speech, he was delighted to carry on long conversations with the doctor. [65] The public response—in letters and donations—was significant, and the situation was even covered by the British Medical Journal. Apart from his deformities and the lameness in his hip, Treves concluded that Merrick appeared to be in good general health. [51] On 2 December, Treves presented Merrick at a meeting of the Pathological Society of London in Bloomsbury. This injury became infected and left him permanently lame. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. It contained an incorrect date of birth but, throughout his life, Merrick was vague about when he was born.[40]. [75] His facial deformities continued to grow and his head became even more enlarged. According to the BBC, Merrick’s skeleton was preserved at the Royal London Hospital as a scientific specimen after his death but his soft tissue had been buried elsewhere. [36], When Tom Norman first saw Merrick, he was dismayed by the extent of his deformities, fearing his appearance might be too horrific to be a successful novelty. [24] His home-life was now "a perfect misery",[17] and neither his father nor his stepmother demonstrated affection towards him. We pay for videos too. [90], Merrick's death was ruled accidental and the certified cause of death was asphyxia, caused by the weight of his head as he lay down. George Hitchcock contacted an acquaintance, showman Tom Norman, who ran penny gaff shops in the East End of London exhibiting human curiosities. He drew a crowd of curious onlookers until a policeman helped him into an empty waiting room, where he huddled in a corner, exhausted. [69] Merrick was also reluctant to talk about his exhibition days, although he expressed gratitude towards his former managers. [125], In 1971, anthropologist Ashley Montagu published The Elephant Man: A Study in Human Dignity which drew on Treves's book and explored Merrick's character. He died on 12 April 1890, at the age of 27. The skeleton of Joseph Merrick, known as the Elephant Man, has been preserved at the Royal London Hospital ever since 1890, the year of his death. [38] Treves later recalled in his 1923 Reminiscences that Merrick was "the most disgusting specimen of humanity that I had ever seen ... at no time had I met with such a degraded or perverted version of a human being as this lone figure displayed. Merrick’s skeleton is kept at Queen Mary University of London, where students and medical faculty members can request to view it. View our online Press Pack. [61] The police contacted Treves, who went to the station. [52] Eventually, Merrick told Norman that he no longer wanted to be examined at the hospital. [9] She was said to have some form of physical disability, and as a young woman worked as a domestic servant in Leicester before marrying Joseph Rockley Merrick, then a warehouseman,[10] in 1861. Eventually, his disfigurement drew such negative attention from members of the public that the Commissioners for Hackney Carriages withdrew his licence when it came up for renewal. Skeleton could hold key to century-old puzzle of what caused Joseph Merrick's terrible disfigurement Daily Coronavirus Briefing No hype, just the advice and analysis you need Treves visited him daily and spent a couple of hours with him every Sunday. He took skin samples, which were later lost during the Second World War, and mounted his skeleton, which remains in the pathology collection at the Royal London Hospital,[94] which amalgamated in 1995 with St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College, under the aegis of Queen Mary University of London, a constituent college of the federal University of London and a member of the United Hospitals. [38] One visitor was a young house surgeon named Reginald Tuckett. Oct 13, 2015 - Explore Clare Lenton's board "Joseph Merrick: the Elephant Man" on Pinterest. In 1979, The Elephant Man, a Tony Award–winning play by American playwright Bernard Pomerance, was staged. [140], In November 2016, Joanne Vigor-Mungovin published a book called Joseph: The Life, Times and Places of the Elephant Man, which included a foreword written by a member of Joseph Merrick's family. He reciprocated with letters and hand made gifts of card models and baskets. His life was brief and tragic, marred by loss, rejection, and an ever worsening disfigurement. [33] To this end, he organised a group of managers for Merrick: music hall proprietor J. Ellis, travelling showman George Hitchcock, and fair owner Sam Roper. William is buried with his mother, aunts and uncles in Welford Road Cemetery in Leicester[14] while Marion is buried with her father in Belgrave Cemetery in Leicester. The women he met were either disgusted or frightened by his appearance. He eventually made his way back to the London Hospital[6] where he was allowed to stay for the rest of his life. Joseph was classed as class one for able bodied males and females. The class system determined which department or ward he would reside in as well as the amounts of food he would receive. Named after his father, he was given the middle name Carey by his mother, a Baptist, after the preacher William Carey. Mrs Vigor-Mungovin told the BBC, a story about his soft tissue being buried separately had not been followed up due to the number of graveyards in use at the time. [44] She agreed and with fair warning about his appearance, she went to his rooms for an introduction. According to Nadja Durbach, author of The Spectacle of Deformity: Freak Shows and Modern British Culture, Norman's view gives an insight into the Victorian freak show's function as a means of survival for poor people with deformities, as well as the attitude of medical professionals of the time.
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