• Born in England, 1578
• Studied at Univ. of Pauda
• Discovered circulation of blood
• Disputed Galen’s theory on blood in body
• Died in 1657

• Son of Governor Thomas Harvey
• Attended Kings School in at Folkstone
• Studied art and medicine at Gonville and
Caius College
• Attained physician training at Pauda, the leading European Medical School
• Student of Fabrici and Cremonini

• Was taught in school that blood flowed from the head over the same route, and remained still in the body
• William was very curious about the function of tiny flaps in heart and other vessels
• Investigated by operating on many live animals
• Presented his theory that blood circulates in the body like “a river with no end”

• Said flap like structures were valves, prevented blood from flowing backwards
• Wrote about his views in De motu cordis
• Disputed Galen’s theory, who believed blood stood in body like the sea
• Criticized at first, but views were proven and accepted shortly

• Published all his theories in the heavily criticized Exercitatio anatomica de motu cordis et sanguinis in animalibus
• Waited 13 years after discovery to publish his works because they disputed Galen, no one had dared to dispute him before
• Was physician to both King James and King
Charles