James Henry Pullen

James Henry Pullen (1835–1916), also known as the Genius of Earlswood Asylum, was a British savant, who possibly had aphasia.

Once, when Pullen developed an obsession to marry a townswoman he fancied, the staff mollified him by giving him an admiral's uniform instead.

Queen Victoria accepted some of the drawings and Prince Albert received one Pullen had drawn of the Siege of Sebastapol in the Crimean War, based on newspaper accounts.

This intricate object, made from ebony and rare timbers, features two ivory angels on one side which appear in conflict with a brass tongued devil attempting to haul the boat back.

Pullen also created models of fantasy craft including The State Barge designed as a floating office for Queen Victoria, with a desk and miniature documents visible through the circular windows.

Asylum superintendent John Langdon Down, after whom Down syndrome is named, gave Pullen a great deal of leeway.

Pullen also built a large, mechanical mannequin in the middle of his workshop; he would sit inside it, manipulate its face and appendages and talk through a concealed bugle in its mouth.

Pullen's model of The State Barge was displayed at the Royal College of Nursing's exhibition A history of care or control?