Joseph Merrick is an Englishman who was born and lived in the 19th century. He became famous for his unusual appearance caused by body deformation. Known as the Elephant Man.
early years
Joseph Merrick was born on August 5, 1862 in Leicester and became the first child in the family. At birth, he did not show any deformities, he was an ordinary baby. Joseph's father is the son of a talented and wealthy London weaver. Joseph Merrick's parents met at work, soon got married, and a year later their first son was born. Joseph also had a younger brother and sister.
Health problems began at the age of five. When Joseph was 11 years old, his mother passed away and his father married a second time. For several years, the disease did not subside, and the deformation of the body became more extensive. Due to ugliness, the new wife did not accept Joseph and threw him out of the house.
As a teenager, the boy began to earn money. At first he got a job at a tobacco company, but due to health problems he was forced to leave, after which Merrick worked as a haberdasher. Tired of the bullying and abuse of his stepmother, Joseph ran away from home.
Circus work
At the age of 22, on August 29, 1884, Joseph began to earn money in the circus arena, where he was paid a fairly large salary. In 1886, the freak show ceased to be legal, and the director of the circus sold Merrick to an Austrian who transported Joseph to Belgium. The Austrian deceived the young man, took from him the fortune that had accumulated during his work.
Future life
Later, Joseph Merrick was seen by physician Frederick Teeves. The physiologist provided Joseph with a home by placing him in a permanent home in a London hospital. At this time, Merrick gained great popularity: the Princess of Wales herself showed considerable interest in Joseph, and often English aristocrats visited the young man in the hospital. Thanks to Frederick Teeves, Merrick found not only a home, but also caring friends, his life improved, Joseph fell in love with theaters, began to read and write poetry a lot, he spent a lot of time in nature.
Joseph Merrick died on April 11, 1890 at the age of 27 from an accident: due to a serious deformation of his head, Joseph could not sleep in a horizontal state, but on the day of his death he nevertheless lay down on a pillow. This caused asphyxiation, as a heavy deformed head compressed his neck.
Personal life
Joseph Merrick was not married. He loved collecting wild plants, writing poetry and prose. As noted by the doctors and nurses who looked after Merrick at the hospital, Joseph was an amazingly empathetic and kind person with a pure and sympathetic heart.
Joseph Merrick in art
Because of his extraordinary appearance, Joseph was named the Elephant Man. In 1978, Bernard Pomerance's film The Elephant Man, which won three Tony awards, was made about him.
In 1980, a film was made about Joseph under the same title "The Elephant Man", but it was directed by David Lynch.
