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Joseph Merrick

Joseph Merrick (aka The Elephant Man)

Joseph Merrick (5 August 1862 - 11 April 1890), also known as the John Merrick, was a resident of the London Hospital in Whitechapel. Due to severe deformities he was known as the Elephant Man. Sometime before season two he became known to Inspector Reid. Merrick became a key component in a case that Reid was investigating. He was murdered by Jedediah Shine, after witnessing the murder of Detective Sergeant Maurice Linklater.

Historically Merrick died in the April of 1890 due to asphyxia from the weight of his head as he lay down. He was paraded around by Tom Norman across the street from London Hospital. Merrick was taken in and cared for by Frederick Treves in the hospital until his death, when Joseph allegedly removed the cushions he used to sleep upright to sleep laying down like a "normal" person. The show fictionalized this account by having Shine remove the cushions against Joseph's will and forcing him down.

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