Erasmus Darwin

Erasmus Darwin (1731–1802) was an English physician, natural philosopher and inventor, born in Nottinghamshire and long in practice at Lichfield and later Derby. He was a leading member of the Lunar Society of Birmingham and the grandfather of Charles Darwin.

His verse made natural science fashionable: The Botanic Garden (1791) set the Linnaean system and contemporary chemistry, geology and engineering in glittering heroic couplets, and was widely admired and parodied in its day.