“All we know is still infinitely less than all that remains unknown.” -William Harvey. The world has produced many great scientists. One of them, in particular, is William Harvey. William Harvey is recognized through his accomplishments in his early life, his education, and his advances in anatomy and physiology.
William Harvey was born on April 1, 1578, in Folkestone, Kent, a port town in southeast England. His parents were Thomas Harvey, a farmer and merchant who later became Mayor of Folkstone, and Joane Harvey (“William Harvey Biography”, 2017). William was the oldest of nine siblings- seven brothers and two sisters. Early in his childhood, he attended a local school in Folkstone. At the age of ten, …show more content…
he attended King’s Grammar School in Canterbury, where he mastered Latin. William lived with his uncle during this time.
Five years later, he became a medical student at the University of Cambridge, where he had earned a six year scholarship (“William Harvey”, 2015). He also attended Gonville and Caius College in 1593. He graduated in 1597. Two years later, Harvey traveled to Italy and enrolled in the University of Padua. This university was known as one of the most prestigious universities of the time. Hieronymus Fabricius, a highly educated surgeon and anatomist, became Harvey’s teacher and mentor. Harvey admired Fabricius and learned a lot from him. He taught Harvey that veins have stepladder valves in them (“William Harvey reveals the circulation of blood”, 2009). Fabricius said that during his examinations, “Harvey had conducted himself so wonderfully well, and has shown such skill, memory, and learning that he has far surpassed even the great hopes which his examiners had formed of him. They decided therefore that he was skillful, expert, and most efficiently qualified both in arts and medicine…” Harvey graduated from the University of Padua and moved back to England in 1602. When he arrived in England, the University of Cambridge awarded him a Doctor of Medicine degree (“William Harvey”, 2015). In 1604, William married Elizabeth Browne, daughter of Elizabeth I’s physician (“William Harvey [1578 - 1657]”, 2014). They never had any children.
William Harvey became a Fellow of the Royal College in 1607, branding him as one of the most skilled and innovative physicians in the world (“Fellowship of the RCP”, n.d.). St. Bartholomew’s Hospital hired William as the head physician in the same year. When he was thirty-seven years old, he was elected Lumleian Lecturer; he presented his first lecture in April of 1616 (“Harvey, William”, 2001). During these lectures, he presented some ideas that eventually led to his discovery of blood circulation. He made most of his conclusions by performing experiments himself with dead animals.
News of Harvey’s work, as a physician, traveled far and wide, and, in 1630, he was appointed the physician to King James I. He later became the physician to King Charles I. Harvey also became known for examining a few suspected witches of the era (“William Harvey”, 2004). During the English Civil War, William protected the king’s children and treated the wounded (“William Harvey Biography”, 2017). While he was serving the community, several citizens ransacked his home and stole records of his latest discoveries. These records contain many references to the Bible, showing that he was a Christian (Coppedge, n.d.). Nevertheless, Harvey’s biggest accomplishment was his book, Exercitatio Anatomica de Motu Cordis et Sanguinis in Animalibus (‘An Anatomical Study of the Motion of the Heart and of the Blood in Animals’).
It was published in 1628 and received a great deal of backlash. By publishing this, he proved Galen’s theory inaccurate. Galen proposed the idea that the body made new blood after it was used. In De Motu Cordis, Harvey explained the circulation of blood. He states that arteries and veins circulate blood throughout the whole body, and the heart’s beat continues the circulation. Harvey also concluded that “blood in the arteries and the veins is from the same origin, the blood sent through the arteries to the tissues is not consumed there, the heart is the source of blood movement, and the heart contracts the same time as a pulse is felt” (“William Harvey”, 2015). William Harvey also disproved many previous thoughts. He revealed that blood on both sides of the body is still blood, even if one side is carrying oxygen, and there are no vessels in the heart’s …show more content…
septum. Even though everyone did not agree with Harvey’s works, many people saw them as the truth. William wrote another book titled De Generatione Animalium. In this less popular work, he describes his theory of embryology. He states that all mammals reproduce by fertilization. No further research could be done without the use of a microscope. He quotes, “You know very well the storm my previous research caused. It is often better to grow wise in private at home, than to publish what you have amassed with infinite labor, to stir up storms that may rob you of peace and quiet for the rest of your days.” His wife, Elizabeth, passed away, and he decided to move to London with his brothers. In his last years, he donated a library to the College of Physicians. He died on June 3, 1657, from a cerebral hemorrhage, a type of stroke. He was buried in Hempstead, Essex. William Harvey had many achievements throughout his life, especially in the fields of anatomy and physiology.
He contributed many new things to the study of science. His most famous discovery dealt with the circulation of blood throughout the entire body. William Harvey’s works still impact the science industry today.
Outline
Introduction
Hook: “All we know is still infinitely less than all that remains unknown.” -William Harvey
Topic Sentence: One of them, in particular, is William Harvey.
Thesis Statement: William Harvey is recognized through his accomplishments in his early life, his education, and his advances in anatomy and physiology.
Body
William Harvey was born on April 1, 1578.
Parents were Thomas Harvey and Joane Harvey.
He attended King’s Grammar School and lived with his uncle.
Five years later, he became a medical student at the University of Cambridge, where he had earned a six year
scholarship.
He enrolled in University of Padua.
Hieronymus Fabricius was his teacher and mentor.
“Harvey conducted himself so wonderfully well, and has shown such skill, memory, and learning that he has far surpassed even the great hopes which his examiners had formed of him….”.
University of Cambridge awarded him a Doctor of Medicine degree.
He married Elizabeth Browne.
William Harvey became a Fellow of the Royal College in 1607.
He was elected Lumleian Lecturer.
He presented ideas during lectures.
News of Harvey’s work, as a physician, traveled far and wide, and, in 1630, he was appointed the physician to King James I.
He was the physician to King Charles I.
He was a Christian.
Nevertheless, Harvey’s biggest accomplishment was his book, Exercitatio Anatomica de Motu Cordis et Sanguinis in Animalibus.
Harvey explained circulation of blood.
“Blood in the arteries and the veins is from the same origin, the blood sent through the arteries to the tissues is not consumed there...”.
Even though everyone did not agree with Harvey’s works, many people saw them as the truth.
He wrote De Generatione Animalium.
It described the theory of embryology.
“You know very well the storm my previous research cause. It is often better to grow wise in private at home, than to publish what you have amassed with infinite labor…”.
William died on June 3, 1657 from a cerebral hemorrhage.
Conclusion
William Harvey had many achievements throughout his life, especially in the fields of anatomy and physiology.
His most famous discovery dealt with the circulation of blood throughout the entire body.
William Harvey’s works still impact the science industry today.
References
Coppedge, D. F. (n.d.). William Harvey. Retrieved February 11, 2018, from https://crev.info/scientists/william-harvey/
Fellowship of the RCP (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2018, from https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/fellowship-rcp
Harvey, William. (2001). Retrieved February 8, 2018, from http://www.encyclopedia.com/people/medicine/medicine-biographies/william-harvey
William Harvey (2004). Retrieved February 8, 2018, from http://www.encyclopedia.com/people/medicine/medicine-biographies/william-harvey
William Harvey (1578 - 1657) (2014). Retrieved February 8, 2018, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/harvey_william.shtml
William Harvey (2015, March 8). Retrieved February 8, 2018, from https://www.famousscientists.org/william-harvey/
William Harvey Biography (2017, January 9). Retrieved February 10, 2018, from https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/william-harvey-492.php
William Harvey reveals the circulation of blood (2009, August). Retrieved February 10, 2018, from http://www.historyextra.com/period/stuart/william-harvey-reveals-the-circulation-of-the
blood/