Clubs, Societies & Associations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 »

Taken from a letter to James Watt.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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