History Lesson 14: Joseph Merrick - The Elephant Man

About this Episode The lABLEd Podcast episode delves into the history of Joseph Merrick, also known as the Elephant Man. Joseph was born on August 5, 1862, in Leicester, with significant physical deformities. He faced societal rejection, including being abandoned by his stepmother and working as a hawker. Merrick's life improved when he became a human exhibit, attracting medical and social attention. He lived in the London Hospital for years, receiving care and attention from high-society benefactors. Merrick's cause of death remains debated, with theories including accidental asphyxiation. His skeleton and medical samples are preserved at Queen Mary University.To download transcripts of this, and every episode visit www.labledpodcast.co.uk, enjoy bonus episodes and a little bit more lABLEd, sign up to our Substack About the Show & How to SupportSupport this PodcastLike LABLEd Podcast on FacebookTweet lABLEd PodcastFollow LABLEd Podcast on InstagramGot a comment or Question? Email us!lABLEd Podcast is currently self-funded. Please consider donating to our GoFundMeProduction TeamHosts: Alice Evans, Daisy Holder, and Lucy WoodEditor: Adam HullMusic: Maisy Crunden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.