Joseph Merrick Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Joseph Merrick
Merrick c. 1889
Born	Joseph Carey Merrick (1862-08-05)5 August 1862 Leicester, England
Died	11 April 1890(1890-04-11) (aged 27) Whitechapel, London, England
Cause of death	Asphyxia
Resting place	Skeleton on display in Royal London Hospital
Other names	The Elephant Man John Merrick
Height	5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)
Parents	Joseph Rockley Merrick (father) Mary Jane Merrick (née Potterton) (mother)

Joseph Carey Merrick (born August 5, 1862 – died April 11, 1890) was an English man. He had unusual changes to his face and body. People often called him John Merrick by mistake.

At first, he was shown to people in a "freak show" as the "Elephant Man". Later, he moved to live at the London Hospital. This happened after he met Dr. Frederick Treves. Joseph Merrick then became quite well known in London society.

Who Was Joseph Merrick?
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Who Was Joseph Merrick?

Joseph Merrick was born in Leicester, England. His body began to change in unusual ways when he was very young. His skin became thick and lumpy. His lips grew larger, and a bony bump formed on his forehead. One of his arms and both of his feet also became enlarged.

When he was a child, he fell and hurt his hip. This made him limp for the rest of his life. His mother died when he was 11 years old. His father soon married again.

Early Life and Challenges

Merrick left school at age 13. He started working at a cigar factory in Leicester. His father and stepmother did not want him to live with them. So, he left home and went to live with his uncle, Charles Merrick. His uncle was a hairdresser.

In December 1879, when Joseph was 17, he went to live in the Leicester Union Workhouse. A workhouse was a place where poor people could live and work.

The Elephant Man Show

After four years in the workhouse, Merrick decided to try something new. In 1884, he contacted a showman named Sam Torr. Joseph suggested that Torr should show him to the public. Torr agreed and found a group of men to manage Merrick. They gave him the name "the Elephant Man."

Merrick traveled around the East Midlands of England. Then, he went to London. He was shown in a small shop on Whitechapel Road. This shop was rented by another showman, Tom Norman. Norman's shop was right across the street from the London Hospital.

A surgeon named Frederick Treves visited the shop. He invited Merrick to be examined and photographed. After this, Merrick traveled with Sam Roper's circus. He also toured parts of Europe.

Life at the Hospital

While in Belgium, Merrick was robbed by his road manager. He was left alone in Brussels. Eventually, he found his way back to London. He arrived at the doors of the London Hospital.

Dr. Frederick Treves was at the hospital. Joseph was given a temporary bed there. Even though his condition could not be cured, Merrick was allowed to stay at the hospital for the rest of his life. Dr. Treves visited him every day. They became very close friends.

Many rich and important people from London society also visited Merrick. This included Alexandra, Princess of Wales.

His Final Years

Joseph Merrick died on April 11, 1890. He was 27 years old. The official reason for his death was asphyxia. This means he could not breathe.

Dr. Treves performed an examination of his body. He believed Merrick died because his neck became dislocated. Joseph was found at 3 PM by Doctor Sidney Hodges. He was stretched across his bed. This suggested he was awake and trying to get up when he died.

What Caused His Condition?

For a long time, doctors were not sure what caused Merrick's unusual body changes. There was no way to do genetic tests back then. For much of the 1900s, people thought he might have had other brain conditions.

In 1986, doctors thought he might have had Proteus syndrome. This is a very rare condition present from birth. It is also known as Wiedemann syndrome. In 2003, scientists did DNA tests on his hair and bones. However, these tests did not give a clear answer.

His Story in Books and Films

Joseph Merrick's life story has been told in many ways.

In 1979, a play called The Elephant Man was written by Bernard Pomerance.
In 1980, David Lynch directed a film also called The Elephant Man.
From late 2014 to early 2015, actor Bradley Cooper starred in a new Broadway version of The Elephant Man.