Clubs, Societies & Associations

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A Portrait of Dr. Erasmus Darwin

Erasmus Darwin: Doctor, Inventor, Poet and Educationalist Erasmus Darwin was born at Elston, near Nottingham, in 1731… read more »

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A Portrait of Dr. William Small

William Small: Teacher, Scientist and Mentor William Small was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, in 1734, the son… read more »

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A Portrait of James Watt

James Watt: Inventor James Watt was born in Greenock, Scotland in 1736. His father was an instrument… read more »

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A Portrait of Josiah Wedgwood

Josiah Wedgwood: Industrialist Josiah Wedgwood was born in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent in 1730 into a family of long… read more »

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A Portrait of Richard Lovell Edgeworth

Richard Lovell Edgeworth: Inventor, Educator and Reformer In 1744, Edgeworth was born in Bath into a landowning… read more »

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A Portrait of Samuel Galton jnr

Samuel Galton Junior: Industrialist Samuel Galton junior was born in Birmingham in 1753, the son of the… read more »

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A Portrait of Thomas Day

Thomas Day: Humanitarian and Reformer Thomas Day was born in 1748. His father was a landowner and… read more »

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An “ever-open door”: Erasmus Darwin and Lichfield

Samuel Johnson described Lichfield as a “city of philosophers” where Erasmus Darwinwas the most prominent of an outstanding group of… read more »

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Anna Seward and Erasmus Darwin

Image: Engraving of Erasmus Darwin M.D. Birmingham Central Library 3. Anna Seward and Erasmus Darwin 1756 saw the… read more »

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Anna Seward and her World

Image: The West Front of Lichfield Cathedral Lantern Slide, Birmingham Central Library 1. Anna Seward and her World… read more »

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Anna Seward and Lichfield Society

Image: Samuel Johnson’s Birthplace, Lichfield Lantern Slide, Birmingham Central Library 2. Anna Seward and Lichfield Society So, how… read more »

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Anna Seward, Richard Lovell Edgeworth, Thomas Day and Brooke Boothby

Image: Engraving of Richard Lovell Edgeworth Birmingham Central Library 4. Anna Seward, Richard Lovell Edgeworth, Thomas  Lichfield and… read more »

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Anna Seward: Woman of Considerable Renown

Text: Marion Roberts Image: Engraving of Anna Seward [Image from Birmingham Central Library] Summary Anna Seward was an accomplished and… read more »

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Anti-slavery and the Midlands

Introduction  The West Midlands region was home to a remarkable collection of individuals during the closing decades… read more »

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Aris’s Birmingham Gazette – Advert for Revolutionary Dinner

Hotel, Birmingham, July, 1791. Commemoration of the French Revolution. A Number of Gentlemen intend DINING together on… read more »

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Birmingham: “The Toyshop of Europe”

Image: Matthew Boulton by C F Von Breda, 1792. Oil on Canvas. Boulton was the most famous of Birmingham’s… read more »

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Dr John Ash, M.D.

Image: Print of a portrait of Dr John Ash (1723-1798) from R K Dent, Old and New Birmingham: A… read more »

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Educating Amelia

Image: Portrait of James Keir and his granddaughter. Image from: Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery Day’s problems… read more »

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Erasmus Darwin’s Commonplace Book

Image: Joseph Wright (1734-1797), Portrait of Erasmus Darwin (1792). Oil on Canvas. Wolverhampton Art Gallery Text: Olga Baird Summary Darwin’s Commonplace Book… read more »

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Erasmus Darwin’s Signature

Taken from a letter to James Watt.

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PlayErasmus Darwin, At the Heart of the Lichfield Enlightenment

Erasmus Darwin, At the Heart of the Lichfield Enlightenment

Dr Erasmus Darwin was at the heart of Lichfield’s rise as a centre of Enlightenment thought. Dr… read more »

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PlayErasmus Darwin, the Scientist

Erasmus Darwin, the Scientist

Dr Erasmus Darwin’s Commonplace Book details his many and varied interests. This film looks at some of… read more »

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Floyer and Erasmus Darwin

Image: Joseph Wright (1734-1797), Portrait of Erasmus Darwin (1792). Oil on Canvas. Image from: Wolverhampton Art Gallery Erasmus Darwin, who started… read more »

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PlayIndustry and Genius: John Baskerville & the beauty of letters

Industry and Genius: John Baskerville & the beauty of letters

Explore the life and work of John Baskerville – a Birmingham based printer, stone cutter, letter founder,… read more »

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John Baskerville and Benjamin Franklin: A Trans-Atlantic Friendship

Image: Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). The Hundred Greatest Men: Portraits of the One Hundred Greatest Men, Vol VII Politics, (Sampson… read more »

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Lady Catherine Wright

Image: Portrait of Dr William Withering from an engraving Image from: Local Studies and History, Birmingham Central… read more »

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Letter from Charles Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1777/01/13

Charles Darwin was Dr. Darwin’s son and studied medicine at Edinburgh University. Dr. Joseph Black was a… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Ann Watt, 1794/03/12

Ann Watt was James Watt’s second wife and mother to Jessy. Dr. Darwin treated Jessy during her… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1767/08/18

Darwin writes to Watt about his ideas for improving carriages and commenting on Watt’s developing theories for… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1775/03/29

Boulton and Watt were now in partnership and Boulton was attempting to have a Private Bill passed… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1788/11/18

Darwin writes to Watt concerning Watt’s health, with advice on treatments and remedies and various theories of… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1789/11/20

Darwin writes to Watt to request some details of the Boulton and Watt steam engine for his… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1790/01/19

Darwin thanks Watt for information about steam engines for The Economy of Vegetationand attempts to rouse Watt from… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1793/12/13

Darwin writes to Watt concerning the care of Jessy Watt, encouraging her to exercise and play sports.… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1794/01/01

Darwin’s recommendations for the treatment of Watt’s daughter, Jessy, who was suffering from tuberculosis. —————————————- Dear Sir,… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1794/04/25

Darwin writes to Watt with more suggestions for the treatment of his daughter, Jessy, including advice on… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1794/05/25

Darwin writes to Watt outlining a range of treatments for Watt’s daughter, Jessy. This letter includes details… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1794/05/29

Darwin’s advice to Watt for the continued treatment of Jessy. —————————————- Derby May 29-94 Dear Sir All… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1794/06/06

Increasingly unable to help Jessy Watt as she continues to suffer from tuberculosis, Darwin writes to Watt… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1794/06/11

Darwin writes to Watt after the death of his daughter, Jessy who died in early June, 1794.… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1794/07/03

Darwin writes to Watt to encourage him in his scientific experiments, especially Watt’s experiments with “inflammable air”.… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1794/08/17

Darwin writes to Watt to thank him for sending the scientific apparatus, previously requested for obtaining gases.… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1794/09/01

Darwin writes to Watt concerning their experiments into the use of gases in medicine. Darwin also mention… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1794/11/17

Darwin writes to Watt concerning their efforts to raise money for Dr. Beddoes’ Pneumatic Institute. Darwin also… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1795/04/02

Darwin writes to Watt about his continuing experiments with the use of gases in medicine. Darwin mentions… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1795/04/28

Darwin writes to Watt of his experiments with gases and now seems to be treating patients with… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1795/07/09

Darwin writes to Watt about one of the various law suits over the patents of Watt’s steam… read more »

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1795/12/28

Darwin writes to Watt on behalf of a patient requesting apparatus for making oxygen gas. —————————————- Derby… read more »

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