Josiah Wedgwood (1730–1795) was a noted pottery businessman and a friend of Erasmus Darwin.
During 1780, on the death of his long-time business partner Thomas Bentley, Josiah asked Darwin for help in managing the business.
As a result of the close association that grew up between the Wedgwood and Darwin families, one of Josiah's daughters later married Erasmus's son Robert.
One of the children of that marriage, Charles Darwin, also married a Wedgwood – Emma, Josiah's granddaughter.
Robert's inheritance of Josiah's money enabled him to fund Charles Darwin's chosen vocation in natural history that resulted in the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution.
Subsequently, Emma's inheritance made the Darwins a wealthy family.

Josiah Wedgwood married Sarah Wedgwood (1734–1815), and they had seven children, including:
Susannah Wedgwood (1765–1817) (later Darwin; see below)
Josiah Wedgwood (1769–1843) (see below)
Thomas Wedgwood (1771–1805) (see below)
Josiah Wedgwood (1730–1795) was a noted pottery businessman and a friend of Erasmus Darwin. During 1780, on the death of his long-time business partner Thomas Bentley, Josiah asked Darwin for help in managing the business. As a result of the close association that grew up between the Wedgwood and Darwin families, one of Josiah's daughters later married Erasmus's son Robert. One of the children of that marriage, Charles Darwin, also married a Wedgwood – Emma, Josiah's granddaughter. Robert's inheritance of Josiah's money enabled him to fund Charles Darwin's chosen vocation in natural history that resulted in the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution. Subsequently, Emma's inheritance made the Darwins a wealthy family.
Josiah Wedgwood married Sarah Wedgwood (1734–1815), and they had seven children, including:
Susannah Wedgwood (1765–1817) (later Darwin; see below)
Josiah Wedgwood (1769–1843) (see below)
Thomas Wedgwood (1771–1805) (see below)
Darwin–Wedgwood family