William Harvey
William Harvey
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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William Harvey was born as William Harvey, but is often referred to by his full name in historical contexts.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: April 1, 1578
Died: June 3, 1657
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Harvey was an English physician who made significant contributions to the field of anatomy, particularly in the discovery of blood circulation. He is often credited as a key figure in the history of medicine.
Early Life and Background
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William Harvey was born in Folkestone, Kent, England, into a family of modest means. His father, also named William Harvey, was a churchwarden at St. Gabriel's Church in London. The younger Harvey showed an early interest in education, attending local schools before moving to Canterbury Cathedral School and later to Caius College, Cambridge University.
At Cambridge, Harvey studied classical literature, philosophy, and medicine. He graduated in 1597 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and went on to earn his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Padua in Italy in 1602. This move allowed him to specialize in anatomy under the tutelage of renowned physicians such as Hieronymus Fabricius.
Major Accomplishments
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Harvey's groundbreaking work focused primarily on the circulatory system, challenging the prevailing views of his time that believed blood was created and destroyed in the liver. His observations led to a profound understanding of the heart's role in circulating blood throughout the body, a concept he eloquently described as "the motion of the blood."
This discovery revolutionized medical understanding, paving the way for further research into human anatomy. Harvey's work also had significant implications for the field of cardiology.
Notable Works or Actions
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Some notable works by William Harvey include:
De Motu Cordis (On the Motion of the Heart): a comprehensive treatise detailing his theories on blood circulation, published in 1628.
Exercitatio Anatomica de Motu Cordis et Sanguinis in Animalibus (Anatomical Exercise on the Motion of the Heart and Blood in Animals): a more extensive work that discussed various aspects of human anatomy.
Impact and Legacy
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Harvey's pioneering work had far-reaching consequences for medicine. His accurate descriptions of blood circulation helped establish a foundation for modern physiology, influencing numerous medical theories and practices throughout history. Today, William Harvey is remembered as one of the most influential figures in the history of medicine.
His work has inspired generations of scientists, researchers, and physicians, contributing significantly to our current understanding of human biology. As a testament to his enduring impact, the William Harvey Lecture, an annual event hosted by the Royal College of Physicians, continues to promote discussion on key medical issues.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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William Harvey is widely quoted and remembered for his groundbreaking contributions to anatomy and physiology. His pioneering work on blood circulation remains a cornerstone of modern medicine, inspiring continued research and debate among scientists and scholars alike.
As an individual, Harvey's dedication to understanding the complexities of human biology has left a lasting legacy in the world of science.
Quotes by William Harvey
Moderate labor of the body conduces to the preservation of health, and cares many initial diseases.
The heart is the household divinity which, discharging its function, nourishes, cherishes, quickens the whole body, and is indeed the foundation of life, the source of all action.
I have often wondered and even laughed at those who fancied that everything had been so consummately and absolutely investigated by an Aristotle or a Galen or some other mighty name, that nothing could by any possibility be added to their knowledge.
And so I conclude that blood lives and is nourished of itself and in no way depends on any other part of the body as being prior to it or more excellent... So that from this we may perceive the causes not only of life in general... but also of longer or shorter life, of sleeping and waking, of skill, of strength and so forth.
For the concept of a circuit of the blood does not destroy, but rather advances traditional medicine.
Only by understanding the wisdom of natural foods and their effects on the body, shall we attain mastery of disease and pain, which shall enable us to relieve the burden of mankind.
Very many maintain that all we know is still infinitely less than all that still remains unknown; nor do philosophers pin their faith to others' precepts in such wise that they lose their liberty, and cease to give credence to the conclusions of their proper senses. Neither do they swear such fealty to their mistress Antiquity that they openly, and in sight of all, deny and desert their friend Truth.
When in many dissections, carried out as opportunity offered upon living animals, I first addressed my mind to seeing how I could discover the function and offices of the heart's movement in animals through the use of my own eyes instead of through the books and writings of others, I kept finding the matter so truly hard and beset with difficulties that I all but thought, with Fracastoro, that the heart's movement had been understood by God alone.