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Barlow, Erasmus Darwin, 1915-2005 (psychiatrist, physiologist, businessman)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1915 - 2005

Biography

Born in London on 15 April 1915, Erasmus Darwin was the second son of (James) Alan Noel Barlow (1881-1968) and (Emma) Nora Darwin (1885-1989). He was educated at Marlborough College, and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied Medicine. In 1938 he married Brigit Ursula Hope Black (known as Biddy), daughter of the writer Ladbroke Lionel Day Black (1877-1940). They had three children: Jeremy (b. 1939), Camilla (b. 1942) and Phyllida (b. 1944).

Barlow was senior lecturer and honorary consultant in psychological medicine at St Thomas's Hospital Medical School from 1951 to 1966. He was vice chairman of the Mental Health Research Fund; a member of the scientific staff of the MRC Department of Clinical Research, University College Hospital; chairman of the Bath Institute of Medical Engineering; and Secretary of the Zoological Society of London (1980-82). He published several papers on physiology and psychological medicine.

In 1958 Barlow was elected to the Board of the Cambridge Instrument Company and became Chairman in 1963. The increasing demands placed on him by the affairs of the company caused him to give up his medical teaching work in September 1966. Following the sale of the Cambridge Instrument Company to George Kent Group in June 1968, Barlow became deputy chairman of George Kent Ltd; and a director of CIC Investment Holdings and Group Investors Ltd.

He became a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers in 1965 and was Master for 1976-77.

Barlow died from renal failure in Cambridge on 2 August 2005.

Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:

 File

Nora Barlow Letters: 1922, 1922

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10286/1/8/23
Scope and Contents

Contains 20 letters from Nora to Ida Darwin sent between 24 February and 19 November 1922. Amongst news of family and social engagements, the letters make reference to the furnishing of a recently acquired holiday home in West Runcton, Norfolk, visits to Cumbria and to Gwen and Jacques Raverat in France. Contains enclosure of pressed flowers from France.
Includes letters from Thomas Erasmus Barlow, Erasmus Darwin Barlow, Joan Barlow and Ruth Darwin to Ida.

Dates: 1922
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 File

Nora Barlow Letters: 1923, 1923

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10286/1/8/24
Scope and Contents

Contains 28 letters from Nora to Ida Darwin sent between 10 January and 27 December 1923. Amongst news of family and social engagements, the letters make reference to a visit to Dorset and France to see Gwen and Jacques Raverat.
Includes postcards from Susan Butson (a nurse in the Barlow household) to Nora and letters from Thomas Barlow and Erasmus Barlow to Ida.

Dates: 1923
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 File

Nora Barlow Letters: 1924, 1924

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10286/1/8/25
Scope and Contents

Contains 19 letters from Nora to Ida Darwin sent between 5 March and 28 December 1924. Amongst news of family and social engagements, the letters make reference to a visit to Switzerland and France.
Includes a single letter from Louise [Ration] to Nora and a letter from Erasmus Barlow to Ida.

Dates: 1924
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 File

Nora Barlow Letters: 1925, 1925

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10286/1/8/26
Scope and Contents

Contains 33 letters from Nora to Ida Darwin sent between 4 January and December 1925. Amongst news of family and social engagements, the letters make reference to visits to Great Yarmouth and France.
Includes a letter from an H. E. L. to Nora and letters from Hilda Barlow, Thomas Barlow, Erasmus Barlow, Andrew Barlow and Katherine (Effie) Farrer to Ida.

Dates: 1925
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).