Erasmus Darwin Rice

Erasmus Darwin Rice was named after Erasmus Darwin, (born Dec. 12, 1731, Elston Hall, Nottinghamshire, Eng.—died April 18, 1802, Breadsall Priory, Derby, Derbyshire), British physician, poet, and botanist noted for his republican politics and materialistic theory of evolution. Although today he is best known as the grandfather of naturalist Charles Darwin and of biologist Sir Francis Galton, Erasmus Darwin was an important figure of the Enlightenment in his own right.

"Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG12-3TZY : 29 November 2018), Erasmus D Rice, 24 May 1805; citing Birth, Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm .