Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 1608.5

ROBERT WILLIS (1799-1878) William Harvey; a history of the discovery of the circulation of the blood. C.K. Paul & co. 1878 First Edition. xvi, 350 p. : front. (port.) 23 cm.

WILLIS, ROBERT (1799–1878), medical history writer, was born in Scotland in 1799, and in 1819 graduated M.D. from the University of Edinburgh. He became a member of the College of Surgeons of England in 1823, then began practice as a surgeon in London, and in 1837 was admitted a licentiate of the College of Physicians. In 1827, on the suggestion of John Abernethy (1764–1831), he was appointed librarian of the newly formed library of the College of Surgeons, and held office till June 1845, after which he went to live at Barnes in Surrey, and there practised until his death. He is recalled as a biographer and editor of the works of William Harvey. His translation of Harvey's 'Exercitatio de motu cordis et sanguinis in animalibus' of 1628 is appreciated as the standard rendering among all the English versions of this most influential dissertation. His translation of the works of William Harvey (1578–1657) was published by the Sydenham Society in 1847. In 1877 he published an historical study entitled ‘Servetus and Calvin,’ and in 1878 ‘William Harvey: a History of the Discovery of the Circulation,’ a work containing some facts not to be found in earlier lives of Harvey.

See Related Record(s): 445 1505

Cited references: Osler 758; Waller 16965; Cushing W210

John Martin M.D. Endowment