The Aquatic Nobleman

Matthew Robinson, the second Baron Rokeby, was a man of high standing who preferred the company of cold water to the comforts of his estate. A graduate of Cambridge and a former Member of Parliament, his transformation into an eccentric hermit began with a profound obsession with natural water. Unlike his peers who indulged in wine and fine dining, Rokeby dedicated his life to a watery existence.

• He grew a beard so long it reached his waist and eventually his knees, refusing to trim it for decades.
• He declined to eat anything but beef tea and raw eggs, believing modern food was toxic.
• He built a massive swimming tank on his estate and spent hours submerged in it, even while receiving guests.

Rokeby believed that frequent bathing and drinking water directly from springs were the keys to eternal health. He was so dedicated to his aquatic lifestyle that he would often be found floating in his tank during the dead of winter. When he traveled, he insisted on walking rather than using a carriage, followed by his servants who carried a portable bathtub. His obsession was so well known that he was often referred to as a human fish. Despite his strange habits, he lived to the age of 88, proving that perhaps his wet lifestyle had some merit in an era of poor hygiene.