The great-great-grand papa flerf of the modern flat earth movement is undoubtedly Samuel Rowbotham.

Flerfs claim he was a doctor. No such records exist. His history has been told in several different places, I will include links to these. However, there are a few notable things to include.

He killed his own daughter with strychnine. This is not mentioned by the flat earthers that idolize him.

Newspaper report about Rowbotham poisoning his own daughter: http://snap.waterfordcoco.ie/collections/enewspapers/waterford_mail/1871/waterford_mail_10_oct_05.pdf

A real doctor would know to induce vomiting immediately. Rowbatham was not a doctor.

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Books that cover Rowbotham

“Flat Earth: The History of an Infamous Idea” by Christine Garwood

“Off the Edge: Flat Earthers, Conspiracy Culture, and Why People Will Believe Anything” by Kelly Weill

This list is incomplete. Feel free to email with additional titles.