A BLUE plaque has been unveiled in honour of Sir Anthony Carlisle who was a doctor to royalty and thought to have inspired Mary Shelley’s 'Frankenstein'.

The revered medic is famed for helping to discover electrolysis, separating water into oxygen and hydrogen for the first time and using an electric current.

Mr Carlisle, who lived from 1768 and 1840, became an esteemed surgeon and President of the Royal College of Surgeons. He was also doctor to the Duke of Gloucester as well as the prince Regent, who later became George IV and was knighted for his services.

As well as his medical work it is believed that he wrote gorily gothic novels under the pseudonym Mrs Carver. One of these books, The Horrors of Oakendale Abbey, was about body snatching and, it is believed, may have been the inspiration for Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

The English Heritage sign was officially unveiled in Chapel Gardens, Stillington, a village near Stockton, where he was born, by Dr Richard Spencer, Head of Science at Middlesbrough College and shortlisted candidate for Global Teacher of the Year, and MP for Stockton North, Alex Cunningham.

The plaque was produced by The Society of Biology as part of their Biology Changing the World Project. A series of 10 new blue plaques have been installed around the UK celebrating eminent but sometimes unsung biologists.