William Harvey

Date of Birth: April 1, 1578

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: June 3, 1657

Biography

William Harvey was an English physician who made seminal contributions to anatomy and physiology. He is best known for his detailed description of the systemic circulation and properties of blood being pumped to the brain and body by the heart. Harvey’s work laid the foundation for modern cardiovascular physiology, and his magnum opus, “De Motu Cordis” (On the Motion of the Heart and Blood in Animals), published in 1628, revolutionized medical science. Born in Folkestone, Kent, England, Harvey attended King’s School in Canterbury before enrolling at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. He later studied medicine at the University of Padua in Italy under Hieronymus Fabricius, a leading anatomist of the time. After obtaining his medical degree, Harvey returned to England and eventually became a physician to King James I and King Charles I. Harvey’s meticulous experiments and observations challenged the prevailing Galenic theories of blood movement and humoral balance, which had dominated medical thought for over a millennium. His work emphasized empirical evidence over theoretical constructs, marking a significant shift in scientific methodology. Despite facing considerable opposition during his lifetime, Harvey’s theories gradually gained acceptance and profoundly influenced future generations of scientists and physicians. His contributions to medical science are still celebrated today.

5 Interesting Facts about William Harvey

1. William Harvey was the first to recognize the full circulation of the blood in the human body, a groundbreaking discovery in medicine.

2. He was appointed as the Lumleian Lecturer in Surgery at the Royal College of Physicians, where he presented his findings on blood circulation.

3. Harvey’s work was initially met with skepticism and resistance from the medical community and his contemporaries.

4. He conducted detailed dissections and vivisections on various animals to understand the mechanics of the heart and blood flow.

5. Harvey served as the personal physician to both King James I and King Charles I, gaining significant recognition and influence during his career.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from William Harvey

1. “All we know is still infinitely less than all that remains unknown.”

2. “I profess to learn and teach anatomy not from books but from dissections, not from the tenets of Philosophers but from the fabric of Nature.”

3. “Nature is nowhere accustomed more openly to display her secret mysteries than in cases where she shows traces of her workings apart from the beaten path.”

4. “Much is unknown to us, but no longer are we in the dark.”

5. “I am convinced that many things are hidden from our senses.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

William Harvey did not accumulate significant wealth by modern standards, as the concept of net worth was different in his era. His contributions to science, however, are invaluable.