William Harvey

William Harvey (April 1, 1578 - June 3, 1657) was a medical doctor who is credited with first correctly describing, in exact detail, the properties of blood being pumped around the body by the heart (It should be noted, however, that many of the discoveries he made had already been observed by Ibn Nafis). This developed the ideas of René Descartes who in his Description of the Human Body said that the arteries and veins were pipes and carried nourishment round the body. Many believe he discovered and extended early Muslim medicine especially the work of Ibn Nafis, who had laid out the principles and major arteries and veins in the 13th century.

Early life and education

Born in Folkestone, England, Harvey was educated at the King's School, Canterbury, at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, from which he received a BA in 1597, and at the University of Padua, where he studied under Fabricius, graduating in 1602. He returned to England and married Elizabeth Brown, daughter of the court physician to Elizabeth I.

Related Topics:
Folkestone - England - King's School, Canterbury - Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge - 1597 - Padua - Fabricius - 1602 - Elizabeth I

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He became a doctor at St. Bartholomew's hospital in London (1609-43) and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.

Related Topics:
St. Bartholomew's hospital - London - Royal College of Physicians

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