What is Joseph Merrick?
{{Infobox person | name = Joseph Merrick | image = Joseph Merrick carte de visite photo, c. 1889.jpg | alt = Joseph Merrick | caption = Merrick, {{circa|1889}} | birth_name = Joseph Carey Merrick | birth_date = {{birth date|1862|08|5|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Leicester]], [[England]] | disappeared_status = | death_date = {{Death date|1890|04|11|1862|08|5|df=y}} (aged 27) | death_place = [[Whitechapel]], [[London]], [[England]] | death_cause = [[Asphyxia]] | native_name_lang = | other_names = The Elephant Man<br>John Merrick | nationality = [[British people|British]] | citizenship = [[British people|British]] | occupation = Circus artist | years_active = 1884-1885 | era = | known_for = Physical deformities due to suspected [[Proteus syndrome]] | style = | height = {{convert|5|ft|2|in|abbr=on|cm}} | height_cm = | movement = | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = | mother = Mary Jane Merrick (née Potterton) | father = Joseph Rockley Merrick | family = William Arthur (brother)<br>Marion Eliza (Sister)<br>Charles Merrick (uncle)<br>Barnabas Merrick (Grandfather)<br>Sarah Rockley (Grandmother) | resting_place = Skeleton on display in [[Royal London Hospital]] }} '''Joseph Carey Merrick''' (5 August 1862&nbsp;– 11 April 1890) was an [[English people|English]]man. His face and body were deformed because of an [[illness]]. To earn [[money|food]], he was shown at [[freak show]]s. He was called the '''Elephant Man'''. He then became famous after he went to live at the [[London Hospital]]. Some people who wrote about him wrongly thought he was called '''John Merrick'''. == Early life == Merrick was born in [[Leicester]], England in 5 August 1862. He started to become deformed when he was 3. He was also [[disability|di