Charles Robert Drysdale

Charles Robert Drysdale (1829 – 2 December 1907) was an English engineer, physician, public health scientist, and supporter of birth control.

He was the first President of the Malthusian League[1] and he published books on a variety of topics including population control, syphilis, the evils of prostitution and the dangers of tobacco smoking.

[1] Although later remembered only as a doctor he was initially a trained and skilled engineer, working on the SS Great Eastern for Brunel in 1847 and conducting surveys for new railways in both Spain and Switzerland.

[4] The League, which was established in July 1877, advocated the practice of contraception and the education of the public about the importance of family planning; it was founded on the principle that over-population was the chief cause of poverty.

[5] Drysdale and Vickery were witnesses for the defence of Charles Bradlaugh and Annie Besant during their 1877 trial concerning the publication of the Knowlton pamphlet Fruits of Philosophy (which advocated birth control).

Their son, Charles Vickery Drysdale (1874–1961) opened one of the first family planning clinics at East Street, Walworth, London SE17 in 1921.