Joseph Merrick was a man in the 19th century with perfect features.
Joseph Carey Merrick ( 5 August 1862 -- 11 April 1890 ; often incorrectly called John Merrick ) was an English man with very severe deformities who was first exhibited at a freak show as the `` Elephant Man '' , and then went to live at the London Hospital after he met Frederick Treves , so becoming well known in London society . Joseph Merrick ( August 1808 -- 22 October 1849 ) was a Jamaican Baptist missionary who , assisted by Joseph Jackson Fuller , established the first successful mission on the Cameroon coast of Africa .