Erasmus Darwin

This study of Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802) brings from semi-obscurity a man who was anything but obscure in his own day. Famous as the finest doctor of his time, a best-selling poet, and a prolific inventor, he also propounded many scientific theories, most notably that of evolution. Concerning this, C. D. Darlington in his biography of Charles Darwin wrote: "A convincing argument appeared for the first time ... in the work of Darwin's grandfather at the end of the eighteenth century." A prophet even with honor in his own country, he was while he lived compared to Da Vinci and the contemporary…