William Harvey Timeline

(1578 - 1657)

William Harvey (1578–1657) was an English physician whose revolutionary work demonstrated that blood circulates continuously through the body, pumped by the heart. His 1628 treatise 'De Motu Cordis' challenged centuries of Galenic medicine and laid the foundation for modern physiology and cardiovascular science. More Less

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Scientific Contributions

Ibn al-Nafis describes pulmonary circulation

1242

Arabic scholar Ibn al-Nafis had disputed aspects of Galen's views, providing a model that seems to imply a form of pulmonary circulation in his Commentary on Anatomy in Avicenna's Canon (1242), centuries before Harvey's work.

Image source: Ibn al-Nafis

Michael Servetus identifies pulmonary circulation

1546 - 1553

Independently of Ibn al-Nafis, Michael Servetus identified pulmonary circulation, but this discovery did not reach the public because it was written down first in the Manuscript of Paris in 1546 and only published in Christianismi Restitutio (1553), which caused his execution; almost all copies were destroyed. He wrote that blood is passed through the pulmonary artery to the pulmonary vein through the lungs, becoming red and ridding itself of sooty fumes by exhalation.

Image source: Michael Servetus

Francisco de la Reyna proposes ideas on circulation

1546

Ideas on circulation of blood were also proposed by the Spanish veterinarian-farrier Francisco de la Reyna in 1546, another precursor to Harvey's demonstration of the circulation of the blood.

Harvey discerns the existence of the Ductus arteriosus

1600 - 1657

As early as the 17th century, William Harvey had already discerned the existence of the Ductus arteriosus and explained its relative function, adding to understanding of fetal circulation.

Image source: Ductus arteriosus

Publication of De Motu Cordis

1628

In 1628 Harvey published in Frankfurt his completed treatise on the circulation of the blood, De Motu Cordis. The 72-page Exercitatio Anatomica de Motu Cordis et Sanguinis in Animalibus contains the mature account of the circulation of the blood; Frankfurt hosted an annual book fair that Harvey knew would allow immediate dispersion of his work.

Image source: Exercitatio Anatomica de Motu Cordis et Sanguinis in Animalibus

Publication of Exercitationes de generatione animalium

1651

Harvey's other major work was Exercitationes de generatione animalium (On Animal Generation), published in 1651, which made foundational contributions to the study of embryology and reproduction.

Image source: William Harvey

Early Life and Education

Birth of William Harvey

Apr 1, 1578

William Harvey was born on 1 April 1578. He would grow up to become an English physician who made influential contributions to anatomy and physiology.

Harvey matriculates at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge

1593

After staying at the King's School for five years, Harvey matriculated at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge in 1593 to continue his education.

Image source: Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge

Harvey graduates as Bachelor of Arts from Caius

1597

Harvey graduated as a Bachelor of Arts from Caius College in 1597, completing his undergraduate studies in Cambridge.

Harvey travels to Italy and enters the University of Padua

1599

Harvey travelled through France and Germany to Italy, where he entered the University of Padua in 1599, one of Europe's leading centers of medical learning.

Image source: University of Padua

Thomas Harvey serves as mayor of Folkestone

1600

William's father, Thomas Harvey, was a jurat of Folkestone where he served as mayor in 1600, reflecting the family's standing in the town.

Image source: William Harvey

Harvey graduates as Doctor of Medicine from Padua

Apr 25, 1602

Harvey graduated as a Doctor of Medicine at the age of 24 from the University of Padua on 25 April 1602, completing his formal medical training.

Medical Career

Richard Caldwell endows the Lumleian lectureship

1582

The Lumleian lectureship, established by Richard Caldwell in 1582, consisted in giving lectures for a period of seven years with the purpose of spreading light and increasing the general knowledge of anatomy throughout England.

Image source: Lumleian Lectures

Harvey joins the Royal College of Physicians

Oct 5, 1604

Following his return from Italy, Harvey established himself in London, joining the Royal College of Physicians on 5 October 1604, beginning his professional career in England.

Image source: Royal College of Physicians

Harvey elected Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians

Jun 5, 1607

Harvey was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians on 5 June 1607, which earned him the post-nominal letters FRCP and greater professional standing.

Harvey becomes Physician in charge at St Bartholomew's Hospital

Oct 14, 1609

Succeeding Dr Wilkinson on 14 October 1609, Harvey became the Physician in charge at St Bartholomew's Hospital, where he was charged to do his best for the poor patients sent to him.

Image source: St Bartholomew's Hospital

Harvey becomes Physician in charge at St Bartholomew's Hospital

Harvey first elected Censor of the College of Physicians

1613

Harvey served as Censor of the Royal College of Physicians for the first time in 1613, a role he would hold again in later years.

Harvey appointed Lumleian lecturer

Aug 4, 1615

The next important phase of Harvey's life began with his appointment to the office of Lumleian lecturer on 4 August 1615, a role involving lectures on anatomy over seven years with the purpose of spreading light and increasing general knowledge of anatomy throughout England.

Harvey begins his Lumleian lectures

Apr 1616

Harvey began his Lumleian lectures in April 1616, and also compiled his lecture notes in a notebook that preserved his developing anatomical ideas.

Harvey appointed Physician Extraordinary to King James I

Feb 3, 1618

While continuing the Lumleian lectures and caring for his patients at St Bartholomew's Hospital, Harvey attained an important and lucrative practice, culminating in his appointment as Physician Extraordinary to King James I on 3 February 1618.

Image source: James VI and I

Harvey appointed Physician Extraordinary to King James I

Harvey elected Censor for the second time

1625

Harvey was re-elected Censor of the College of Physicians several times, having been elected for the first time in 1613 and the second time in 1625.

Harvey re-elected Censor of the College of Physicians

1629

Following the publication of De Motu Cordis, Harvey was re-elected Censor of the College of Physicians in 1629, continuing his active role in the medical establishment.

Harvey investigates a woman accused of witchcraft near Newmarket

1632

Earlier, in 1632, while travelling with the King to Newmarket, Harvey had been sent to investigate a woman accused of being a witch, demonstrating the scientific skepticism he applied to such accusations.

Image source: Witch-hunt

Harvey investigates a woman accused of witchcraft near Newmarket

Harvey returns to England after travels abroad

1632

Having returned to England in 1632, Harvey resumed his duties serving the King and the Royal College of Physicians.

Harvey examines Lancashire women accused of witchcraft

1634

Harvey was one of the examiners of four women from Lancashire accused of witchcraft in 1634. As a consequence of his report, all of them were acquitted.

Image source: Witch trials in England

Harvey returns to Italy, dining at the English College in Rome

Oct 1636

Harvey returned to Italy in October 1636, dining at the English College, Rome, as a guest of the Jesuits there during his travels with the Earl of Arundel's embassy.

Image source: English College, Rome

Later Life and Legacy

Harvey made Doctor of Physic at Oxford

1642

The conflicts of the Civil War soon led King Charles to Oxford, with Harvey attending, where the physician was made Doctor of Physic in 1642.

Image source: University of Oxford

Harvey becomes Warden of Merton College

1645

During the Civil War years in Oxford, Harvey was made Warden of Merton College in 1645, a position of academic leadership at the university.

Image source: Merton College, Oxford

Surrender of Oxford marks Harvey's gradual retirement

1645

The surrender of Oxford in 1645 marks the beginning of Harvey's gradual retirement from public life and duties, as the Civil War drew to a close for the royalist stronghold.

Image source: Siege of Oxford

Harvey establishes the annual Harveian Oration

1656

The Royal College of Physicians of London holds an annual lecture established by William Harvey in 1656 called the Harveian Oration, which continues to this day.

Death of William Harvey

Jun 3, 1657

Harvey died at Roehampton in the house of his brother Eliab on 3 June 1657, at the age of 79.

Funeral procession and burial in the Harvey Chapel

Jun 26, 1657 - Jun 30, 1657

The funeral procession started on 26 June 1657, leading Harvey to be placed in the Harvey Chapel built by Eliab. His body, lapt in lead and simply soldered, was laid without shell or enclosure of any kind in the Harvey vault of the Church of Hempstead, Essex, in June 1657.

Founding of the Harveian Society of Edinburgh

1782

The Harveian Society of Edinburgh was founded in 1782 by Dr Andrew Duncan, honoring William Harvey's legacy in medicine.

Image source: Harveian Society of Edinburgh

Founding of the Harveian Society of London

1831

The Harveian Society of London is a medical society founded in 1831 based in the Medical Society of London, Chandos Street, in Cavendish Square.

Image source: Harveian Society of London

Royal College of Physicians undertakes memorial duty

1882 - 1883

The Royal College of Physicians, of which corporate body Harvey was a munificent benefactor, undertook a memorial duty in the years 1882–1883 by permission of the representatives of the Harvey family.

Publication of Harvey, William (1889)

1889

A work titled Harvey, William (1889) was published, contributing to the historical record and scholarship about Harvey's life and contributions to medicine.

Publication of Harvey, William (1993)

1993

A work titled Harvey, William (1993) was published, continuing scholarly attention to Harvey's life and enduring influence on anatomy and physiology.

Key Facts

William Harvey was born in Folkestone, England, in 1578 and studied at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, before earning his medical degree at the University of Padua.
In 1628, he published 'Exercitatio Anatomica de Motu Cordis et Sanguinis in Animalibus' (De Motu Cordis), which described the continuous circulation of blood through the body for the first time.
Harvey used quantitative methods, calculating that the heart pumps far more blood than the body could produce or consume, proving blood must recirculate rather than be continually made anew.
He served as physician to King James I and later King Charles I of England, and his royal connections helped him continue his research during turbulent times including the English Civil War.
Harvey's work overturned Galen's theory that blood was consumed by tissues and produced by the liver, establishing experimental observation and dissection as central to medical science.

Source

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