Fenwick Skrimshire

Who was Fenwick Skrimshire?

Fenwick Skrimshire was an English physician and naturalist. He published a number of works of popular science and medicine. 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. 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." Skrimshire died at Paston Hall, Peterborough on 11 June 1855.