Fenwick Skrimshire (1774 – 11 June 1855) was an English physician and naturalist. His father was William Skrimshire the elder. He published a number of works of popular science and medicine. He helped his brother William Skrimshire (the younger), (1766 in Wisbech – 22 July 1829) a surgeon and botanist to amass a large herbarium. Skrimshire is notable for having certified the poet John Clare as mad and committed him to Northamptonshire County General Lunatic Asylum in 1841, having known him since 1820. [1] He completed the admission papers by answering the question "Was the insanity preceded by any severe or long-continued mental emotion or exertion?" with "After years of poetical prosing." [2] Skrimshire died at Paston Hall, Peterborough on 11 June 1855. [3] [4]
Fenwick Skrimshire (1774 – 11 June 1855) was an English physician and naturalist. His father was William Skrimshire the elder. He published a number of works of popular science and medicine. He helped his brother William Skrimshire (the younger), (1766 in Wisbech – 22 July 1829) a surgeon and botanist to amass a large herbarium. Skrimshire is notable for having certified the poet John Clare as mad and committed him to Northamptonshire County General Lunatic Asylum in 1841, having known him since 1820. [1] He completed the admission papers by answering the question "Was the insanity preceded by any severe or long-continued mental emotion or exertion?" with "After years of poetical prosing." [2] Skrimshire died at Paston Hall, Peterborough on 11 June 1855. [3] [4]