We note that Jo Vigor-Mungovin, Joseph Merrick’s biographer, has discovered his grave in the City of London Cemetery. Merrick was known as ‘The Elephant Man’ due to his deformities. He died in 1890. A poignant film, starring John Hurt in the title role, was made in 1980. As you might expect The Stamford Mercury published several pieces about him.
The Elephant Man. – Mr. F. C. Carr Gomm, chairman of the London Hospital, in a letter to the Times, brings to public notice a most exceptional case. He says:-“There is now in a little room off one of our attic wards a man named Joseph Merrick, aged about 27, a native of Leicester, so dreadful a sight that he is unable even to come out by daylight to the garden. He has been called “the elephant man” on account of his terrible deformity. I will not shock your readers with any detailed description of his infirmities, but only one arm is available for work.” An appeal is then made for funds to enable the victim of this terrible affliction to spend the few remaining years of his life in seclusion and comfort.
Stamford Mercury, 10th December, 1886
DEATH OF THE “ELEPHANT MAN.” – Joseph Merrick, the unfortunate man who, owing to his strange deformities, was known as the “Elephant Man,” has died at the London Hospital, in which institution he had resided as a patient for about five years. A post-mortem examination has been held. – An inquest was held on Tuesday. Charles Merrick, hairdresser, Church-gate, Leicester, identified the body as that of his nephew, and gave his age as 29. His parents were in no way afflicted, and the father, an engine-driver, is alive. Mr. E. O. Ashe, house surgeon at the London Hospital, said deceased had lived at the institution four or five years. It had been expected he would die suddenly.
The man had great overgrowth of the skin and bone, but did not complain of anything. The exact cause of death was asphyxia, the back of his head being so greatly deformed that while the patient was taking a natural sleep the weight of his head overcame him and so suffocated him. The Coroner said there could be no doubt that death was quite in accordance with the theory put forward by the doctor. The jury accepted this view and returned a verdict to the effect that death was due to suffocation from the weight of the head pressing on the windpipe.
Stamford Mercury, 18th April, 1890.
