A CHAIR that once belonged to Erasmus Darwin has been acquired by a museum in Lichfield.
The wooden ladder back seat with black leather upholstery was donated by University College London (UCL).
The item was passed through the family following Erasmus’ death, eventually being owned by Victorian polymath Francis Galton.
Marie Burbage, manager at Erasmus Darwin House, said:
“After Galton’s death in 1911, the chair then came into Karl Pearson’s ownership following an agreement that the residual of Galton’s estate would support a Francis Galton Laboratory at part of University of London, as it was then known.
“Following his death, the chair remained in the ownership of the university, with different heads of department being responsible for its care, including Egon Pearson, Karl’s son.
“UCL become independent of the University of London in the 1970s – and in 2020 the chair was need of a new home. Erasmus Darwin House was identified as the ideal location and the Department of Statistical Science has now kindly donated the chair to the museum.
“We are grateful to all those UCL staff who have helped with getting the chair to its new home.”
Visitors can see the chair on display in the museum’s library.
