Joseph Carey Merrick was born on 5 August 1862, at 50 Lee Street in Leicester, to Joseph Rockley Merrick and his … See more

Merrick left school aged 13, which was usual for the time. His home life was now "a perfect misery", and neither his father nor his stepmother demonstrated affection toward him. He ran away "two or three" times, but … See more

Merrick concluded that his only escape from the workhouse might be through the world of human novelty exhibitions. He wrote a speculative letter to Sam Torr, a Leicester music hall comedian and proprietor that he kne… See more

As the dampening of public enthusiasm for freak shows and human oddities continued, the police and magistrates became increasingly vigilant in closing down shows. The Elephant Man remained a horrifying spectacle f… See more

With Merrick admitted into the hospital, Treves now had time to conduct a more thorough examination. He discovered that Merrick's physical condition had deteriorated over the previous two years and that h… See more

On three occasions, Merrick left the hospital to go on holiday, spending a few weeks at a time in the countryside. By means of elaborate arrangements that allowed him to board a train unseen and have an en… See more