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Joseph MerrickA British man known as the Elephant Man, who gained popularity due to his deformed body
Date of Birth: 05.08.1862
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of Joseph Merrick
Joseph Carey Merrick, known as the Elephant Man, gained popularity due to his deformed body. Suffering from neurofibromatosis type I and Proteus syndrome, Merrick believed throughout his life that his deformities were caused by an incident that occurred to his mother during pregnancy.
Early Life and Family
Joseph Carey Merrick, the eldest of three children, was born on August 5, 1862, in Leicester, one year after his parents' wedding. His younger brother, William Arthur, died from scarlet fever at the age of four, and his younger sister, Marion Eliza, was born with disabilities. According to Merrick's autobiographical notes, his disability began to manifest when he was five years old, with "thick, rough skin... like that of an elephant, and almost the same color." His mother, Mary, a Sunday school teacher, contracted bronchopneumonia and passed away in 1873. The following year, his father, Joseph Rockley Merrick, remarried. The Merrick family sincerely believed that his deformities were a result of an incident that occurred to his mother. While pregnant with Joseph, Mary had been frightened by a rampaging elephant at a fair. The idea that a mother's emotional experiences could affect the physical appearance of unborn children was still prevalent in 19th century Britain. Throughout his life, poor Joseph believed in this misconception. In addition to his deformities, Merrick experienced a fall during childhood which injured his left hip, leaving him lame for the rest of his days.
Struggles and Career
Being a victim of cruel mockery, Merrick left school at the age of 13. His life with his stepmother and father became "pure torture," as neither of them showed him any warmth. Driven by the desire to get rid of their son, Joseph Rockley ensured that young Joseph obtained a license as a street vendor. However, the idea turned out to be a failure. Potential customers were horrified by Merrick's appearance, and his speech was extremely unintelligible. Housewives refused to open their doors to the strange vendor, while others started to pursue him out of curiosity. At the age of 13, Merrick managed to find work in a tobacco factory, but his progressive right hand deformity prevented him from meeting the production quota within three years. Tired of his stepmother's scolding, Merrick appeared at home less frequently and preferred to wander. After his father brutally beat him in 1877, Joseph left home for good. By the end of December 1879, Merrick became one of the 928 residents of the Leicester Workhouse. Around 1882, he underwent facial surgery to remove a huge growth (about 20-22 cm) that obstructed his food intake. In 1884, Joseph began performing in Tom Norman's circus show. Advertisements created by George Hitchcock depicted him as the "monstrous half-man half-elephant." The circus performers treated the new "freak show" discovery fairly well, and Merrick even managed to save up about 50 pounds, which could sustain him for a whole year of frugal living. As a living exhibit, Joseph enjoyed moderate success, and a significant portion of his earnings came from selling his autobiographical brochure. On December 2, 1884, physiologist Frederick Treves presented the "Elephant Man" to the London Pathological Society. Initially, Treves considered his patient to be mentally impaired, but soon realized how difficult Merrick's situation truly was - "intelligent, very sensitive, and, worst of all, possessed of a romantic imagination."
Later Life and Legacy
Closer to 1886, "freak shows" were declared illegal in Victorian England. Merrick was sent to tour Europe, hoping that authorities there would be less stringent. However, as Merrick described in his memoirs to Treves, the "most repulsive representative of mankind" had less success with the local audience compared to Britain. After being deceived and abandoned by his employer in Brussels, Joseph had to travel to Antwerp, board a ship to Essex, and then take a train to London. Suffering from severe bronchial asthma, Merrick, who had almost stopped speaking, presented Treves with the visiting card of the doctor, who was called upon for assistance. Treves helped the Elephant Man find refuge in the Royal London Hospital. Thanks to the care of the hospital staff, Merrick's physical condition improved somewhat. They managed to partially solve the problem of the unpleasant odor emanating from the patient through regular bathing. The nurses, initially shocked by Joseph's appearance, quickly developed sympathy for him. Increased attention from the media helped to provide financial support for Merrick. The difficult situation of the deformed man was even reported in the scientific journal, "British Medical Journal." It was decided to move Joseph from the hospital attic to a basement room with two rooms. In his new accommodation, a special bed was installed, and, in accordance with Treves' instructions, mirrors were removed. Gradually, the outcast Joseph Merrick transformed into a true Victorian London attraction. He was visited by aristocrats, driven by the knowledge that even Princess of Wales Alexandra took an interest in him. With Treves' support, Merrick occasionally attended theaters. He devoted a lot of time to reading and eventually tried his hand at writing. Using only his left hand, Merrick learned to assemble models of cathedrals, which he distributed to doctors, nurses, and anyone who showed him kindness. The Royal London Hospital provided care for Joseph until his sudden death on April 11, 1890. He died from asphyxia when he decided to fall asleep in an unusual position. Because of his deformity, he had to sleep sitting up to prevent his heavy head from bending his thin neck. On the day of his death, Merrick inexplicably laid his head on a pillow, and Treves concluded that he probably wanted to "experiment, trying to sleep lying down," like other people.
