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He married Helena Cookes ( an amateur botanical illustrator, and erstwhile patient of his ) in 1772 ; they had three children ( the first, Helena was born in 1775 but died a few days later, William was born in 1776, and Charlotte in 1778 ).
In 1775 he was appointed physician to Birmingham General Hospital ( at the suggestion of Erasmus Darwin, a physician and founder member of the Lunar Society ), but in 1783 he diagnosed himself as having pulmonary tuberculosis and went twice to Portugal hoping the better winter climate would improve his health ; it didn't.
In 1785 he was elected a Fellow of the very prestigious Royal Society and also published his Account of the Foxglove ( see below ).
The following year he leased Edgbaston Hall ( now home to a golf club and nature reserve ), in Birmingham, England.
During the Birmingham riots of 1791 ( in which Priestley's home was demolished ) he prepared to flee from Edgbaston Hall, but his staff kept the rioters at bay until the military arrived.
In 1799 he decided that he couldn't tolerate another winter in the cold and draughty Edgbaston Hall, so he bought " The Larches " in the nearby Sparkbrook area ; his wife did not feel up to the move and remained at Edgbaston Hall.
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