The Interesting Genealogical Connections of the Lunar Society Members and their Offspring

Charles Darwin's theories of evolution and natural selection have shaken the world.  To this day they draw controversy.  Some religious groups feel that these theories are in direct contradiction to their belief systems.  Many of the great intellectuals of the Age of Enlightenment, while fiercely defending scientific inquiry were very religious in their own right. Look, for example, at Joseph Priestley.  While many of his era would have considered his religious views heretical, he firmly believed in God and that scientific inquiry would only give man a deeper understanding of Him.

In my ramblings into the Age of Enlightenment, English Industrial Revolution and the Lunar Society, in particular, I had known of two of the eminent members being Erasmus Darwin, the noted doctor, and Josiah Wedgwood, the famous manufacturer of porcelain. I knew that Erasmus Darwin had written some interesting material about "evolution" and I knew that he was the grandfather of Charles, the noted naturalist.

What I didn't know was that Erasmus Darwin's son Robert (Charles' father) had married Josiah Wedgwood's daughter Susannah (Charles' mother). Talk about a great gene pool. Wow!  No wonder Charles could have put it all together.

Also, Samuel Galton, another Lunar Society member, Quaker and noted arms manufacturer, was the grandfather of Francis Galton, the eminent Victorian intellectual who originated statistical methods for many areas of scientific research and developed the concept of statistical correlation. Francis lived at Fair Hill, which was the site of the Priestley house and Laboratory that was burned down in the Birmingham Riots of 1791. Francis' other grandfather was Erasmus Darwin. Zingo! Another one.

So long as we are on this genealogy stuff. Mary Priestley, Joseph Priestley's wife was the daughter of John Wilkinson, the famous ironmaster of Wilkinson sword fame.

This was quite a fraternity. I'm sure that there were many more. If you know of any others, please let me know.

Joseph Priestley Bas Relief Wax Portrait by D. Weaver

The last posting of a bas relief likeness of Dr. Priestley that I am posting is one by D. Weaver of Philadelphia, PA. 13 cm by 19.5 cm. I received this one as a present from my wife, so I don't have many details about how she acquired it. Picture will be uploaded as soon as possible. 

This rather striking portrait is a white wax bust on a black background in a gilt frame with glass cover. Dr. Priestley is facing to his right as in the Wedgwood medallion. Weaver used the wax by Guiseppe Cerracchi as the basis for her medallion.  The Cerracchi portrait was produced by Wedgwood in 1779 and was a large 12 inch model.  It is similar to the wax by Hackwood in 1779.  The difference between them being the hair/wig and collar.  It seems that Hackwood's was first and Cerracchi's similar but with the removal of the "Presbyterian parson's wig".

Wedgwood Jasperware Plaque of Joseph Priestley

So long as I am blogging about all these likenesses of Joseph Priestley that I have collected over the years, I am adding, yet, another. This one is the plaque done in Jasperware by Josiah Wedgwood.  I will dig out some others that I have and post them as they become available when time permits.

This plaque is 10.8 cm by 8.7 cm. The portrait on the obverse side is of Joseph Priestley in profile of his right side.  The bas-relief image is in white with a Jasperware blue background.  The reverse side has the following information printed on it in gold lettering:

 

Dr. Joseph Priestley

1733-1804

Member of the Lunar Society

Discoverer o Oxygen

Friend of Josiah Wedgwood

-o-

This plaque was struck from the 

original model produced by

Josiah Wedgwood in 1779

Also, impressed into the plaque on the reverse side is the following:

WEDGWOOD

o

1952

MADE IN

ENGLAND

Priestley and Wedgwood were both members of the Lunar Society in Birmingham between 1780 and 1791.  Priestley left Birmingham in 1791 after the Birmingham Riots where a mob burned his house and laboratory as well as his church to the ground. Among the various "sins" that this dissenting minister committed to cause these lawless acts were his outspoken support of both the American and French Revolutions.  This was a very unpopular position to take in England at the time.  Ultimately Priestley and his family emigrated to the United States, arriving in New York in 1794.

Terracotta Plaque of Joseph Priestley by P. Bemi

I was looking for the Thomas Halliday medal of Priestley that I had blogged about earlier, when I came across this plaque which is located at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. It is 11.1 cm long and 8.8 cm wide. It was engraved by P. Bemi for Josiah Wedgwood sometime between 1780 and 1790. I purchased one like this a few years ago. Mine is made of terracotta. I would suspect that if it was produced by Wedgwood it would be some ceramic material like this.  

The coloration of mine is just as seen in this picture. Curiously, the attribution at the Museum says that it is made of metal of probable French origin. I have my doubts about that. The reverse side is marked identically in both with the names "Dr. Priestley" and "P Bemi".