William Harvey (1578-1657) founded the science of physiology by revolutionizing ideas on the movement of the heart and blood that had prevailed since Galen (ca. 130 - ca. 200). He not only discovered that the blood circulates and learned the true purpose of the venous valves and the heart's motion, but he also contributed to embryology and strongly influenced the next generation of medical researchers, setting the stage for modern medical science.

The London physician did this while acting as the resident doctor for the poor at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, a lecturer at the College of Physicians, a private practitioner, and later court physician to James I and personal physician to Charles I.

Harvey was influenced by the Calvinist environment of Cambridge (and indeed the Church of England) during his student years—his tutor at Cambridge, George Estey, was a clergyman and lecturer in Hebrew. Throughout his written works, Harvey reinterpreted the classical principle "Nature does nothing in ...

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