Erasmus Darwin

Erasmus Darwin, was an English physician, natural philosopher, physiologist, inventor and poet. He was one of the founding members of the Lunar Society, a discussion group of pioneering industrialists and natural philosophers. His more famous grandsons were Charles Darwin and Francis Galton, though the latter may or may not be more infamous. He developed a theory of evolution, which, though similar to Lamarckism, probably inspired Charles's thoughts on the subject. His first name, Erasmus, is after the Dutch Humanist philosopher of that name. As a Freemason, he is frequently attacked by Conspiracy Theorists who believe the Theory of Evolution was inspired by Masonic philosophy.

Other achievements

 * Inventing the horizontal windmill, a speaking machine and an artificial bird.
 * Campaigning against slavery.
 * Making a sketch of a liquid-fueled rocket.
 * Customizing a table with a semicircle cutout, which his being enormously fat necessitated.