Roger Crab

Roger Crab, English hermit (cropped)

Roger Crab
Born	1621 Buckinghamshire, England
Died	11 September 1680 Bethnal Green, London, England
Occupation	Soldier, herbalist, writer

Roger Crab (1621 – 11 September 1680) was an English soldier, herbalist, and writer. He is best known for his ascetic lifestyle and his writings on vegetarianism and herbal medicine.

Early Life

Roger Crab was born in 1621 in Buckinghamshire, England. Little is known about his early life, but it is believed that he served as a soldier in the English Civil War on the side of the Parliamentarians.

Ascetic Lifestyle

After the war, Crab adopted a life of extreme asceticism. He became a hermit and lived in a small hut in Ickenham, near Uxbridge. Crab's diet was strictly vegetarian, and he is reported to have subsisted on a diet of herbs, roots, leaves, and water. He believed that this simple diet was essential for spiritual purity and health.

Herbalism and Writings

Crab was a proponent of herbal medicine and wrote several works on the subject. His most notable work is The English Hermite, or, Wonder of this Age, published in 1655. In this book, he detailed his dietary practices and the benefits of a vegetarian diet. He also discussed the medicinal properties of various herbs and plants.

Death and Legacy

Roger Crab died on 11 September 1680 in Bethnal Green, London. He is remembered as an early advocate of vegetarianism and natural medicine. His writings continue to be of interest to those studying the history of vegetarianism and herbal medicine.

See Also

• Vegetarianism
• Herbal medicine
• English Civil War
• Parliamentarians (English Civil War)