Conversation so far:
When did Joseph Carey Merrick die?
He died on 11 April 1890.
What was Joseph Carey Merrick's cause of death?
Merrick's death was ruled accidental and the certified cause of death was asphyxia, caused by the weight of his head as he lay down.
Where was Joseph Carey Merrick buried?
On 5 May 2019 author Jo Vigor-Mungovin discovered that Merrick's soft tissue was buried in the City of London Cemetery.
What was Joseph Carey Merrick's legacy?
Treves, in his earlier journal articles as well as his book, insisted on calling him John Merrick. The reason for this is unclear.
What did Joseph Carey Merrick do in his last years of life?
On three occasions Merrick left the London Hospital and London on holiday, spending a few weeks at a time in the countryside.
What did Joseph Carey Merrick do while there at the London Hospital?
He rose each day in the afternoon and would leave his rooms to walk in the small adjacent courtyard, after dark.
What did Joseph Carey Merrick do while in Northamptonshire?
He stayed at the gamekeeper's cottage and spent the days walking in the estate's woods, collecting wild flowers.
Did Joseph Carey Merrick's deformities continue in the last year's his life at the London Hospital?
Merrick's condition gradually deteriorated during his four years at the London Hospital.
Who cared for Joseph Carey Merrick in his last years at the London Hospital?
He required a great deal of care from the nursing staff and spent much of his time in bed, or sitting in his quarters, with diminishing energy.

Question: Did he have any friends?
Self-contained rewrite: Did Joseph Carey Merrick have any friends?