Sir Erasmus Wilson, (1809-1884):
surgeon and archaeologist
Sir Erasmus Wilson, drawn by 'Spy', for Vanity Fair
Wilson was a British surgeon, born in London, and best known as a specialist on skin diseases. He paid £10,000 to transport Cleopatra's Needle (c.1475 BCE) from Egypt to London.
President of the College of Surgeons and of the Biblical Archaeology Society, Wilson was also one of the first shareholders in the London Provincial Turkish Bath Company Ltd.
His book The Eastern, or Turkish bath: its history, revival in Britain and application to the purpose of health (1861) went into several editions and was widely quoted.
This page enlarges an image or adds to the information found below:
Turkish baths for animals. Part 3: Turkish baths for racehorses
Plan of Wilson's hot room
Wilson's dureta
Early problems and controversies. Part 8: shampooing and nakedness
Victorian Turkish baths for animals in Victorian London and Middlesex
Victorian Turkish Baths: their origin, development, and gradual decline
Comments and queries are most welcome and can be sent to:
malcolm@victorianturkishbath.org
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© Malcolm Shifrin, 1991-2023